The primary social structure that emerged in the Middle Ages in Europe was feudalism. This system was characterized by a hierarchical structure of land ownership and obligations between nobles, vassals, and peasants. Lords owned large tracts of land and granted portions to vassals in exchange for military service and loyalty. Peasants, often serfs, worked the land and provided agricultural produce in return for protection and a place to live. Feudalism provided social stability but also reinforced class divisions and limited mobility. It shaped medieval European society, impacting politics, economics, and culture throughout the Middle Ages and beyond.