What is a key principle of feudalism?

A key principle of feudalism is the allocation and hierarchy of land rights, which predominantly belong to kings and nobility. In this system, land was the central economic resource, and its ownership was tightly controlled by a ruling class. Kings granted portions of their land to nobles in exchange for military service, loyalty, and other forms of support. This arrangement created a structured society where power and privilege were heavily dependent on land ownership. The nobility, in turn, could grant smaller portions of land to vassals, continuing the cycle of land-based loyalty and service.

The other options reflect different economic or social systems that do not align with the structure of feudalism. For instance, market ownership by the citizens suggests a capitalist system where individuals hold property rights, while collective land ownership implies a communal or socialist approach. Lastly, the abolition of class structures contradicts the hierarchical nature of feudalism, which was deeply entrenched in class divisions between the landowning elite and the peasants who worked the land. This emphasis on land rights and the associated social hierarchy is what fundamentally characterizes feudalism.