Protofeudalism
Protofeudalism is a term used by some historians to describe societal structures that exhibit characteristics of feudalism but predate its full development or are not strictly European in origin. It generally refers to a system where political power and land ownership are decentralized, and individuals owe personal allegiance and service to a lord in exchange for protection and land. This often involves a hierarchical structure where a king or supreme ruler grants land to vassals, who in turn grant land to their own subordinates.
Key features of protofeudal systems can include a warrior aristocracy, the existence of manorialism or similar
The term is sometimes applied to periods and regions outside of medieval Europe, such as certain early