Cover Page -- Half Title Page -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Contents -- Introduction -- Chapter 1: A Feudalism Overview -- Defining the Term -- Origins of the Idea -- Allodium -- Historians' Understanding of Feudalism -- Characteristics of the Feudal System -- Vassal -- Feudal Land Tenure -- Benefice -- Serfdom -- Serfs in the Roman Empire -- Manorialism -- The Origins of Manorialism -- Lay of the Medieval Land -- The Manor House -- The Manor Court -- European Feudalism in Perspective -- Chapter 2: The Nature of Monarchies -- Functions of Monarchies -- Premodern Monarchies -- Medieval Monarchies Outside Europe -- From Territorial Principalities to Territorial Monarchies -- The Office and Person of the King -- Instruments of Royal Governance -- The Three Orders -- Early Post-Feudal European Monarchies -- Monarchy in the Modern Era -- Monarchical Systems -- Hereditary Succession -- Traditional Monarchies of the Middle East -- Monarchies in the 20th and 21st Centuries -- Chapter 3: Nobility and the Ruling Class -- The Aristocracy -- Nobles and Gentlemen -- Entail -- Royalty and Gentry -- Monarchs -- Prince and Princess -- Duke and Duchess -- Lords and Ladies -- Marquess -- Count -- Viscount -- Baron -- Chapter 4: The Rise and Decline of Feudalism in Western Europe -- The Roots of German Feudalism -- Lords and Peasantry in Medieval Germany -- Transformation of Rural Life -- The Demise of Serfdom in Eastern Europe -- The Revolution of 1525 -- Moving Toward Lasting Reform -- The Genesis of Feudalism in France -- Feudalism in Medieval Spain -- Effect of the French Revolution -- Peasant Insurgencies -- The Abolition of Feudalism in France -- The Introduction of Feudalism in England -- "Bastard" Feudalism -- Commerce, Disease, and Discontent -- The Black Death -- Feudalism in Medieval Italy -- Italian Landholder Reform.

Chapter 5: Feudal Societies of Asia -- The Chinese Feudal State -- The Zhou Feudal System -- Examples from the Zhou Court -- The Chunqiu Period -- Leadership Changes -- The Decline of Feudalism -- Japanese Feudalism, in Brief -- Samurai -- The Oda Regime -- The Weakening of the Bakuhan System -- Abolition of Feudalism -- India and the Caste System -- The Hindu Caste System -- Chapter 6: Class Distinction and Land Rights in the Ottoman Empire -- Classical Ottoman Society and Administration -- Sultan -- Organization of the Ottoman Subject Class -- Sources of Revenue -- The Ottoman Cavalry -- Ottoman Religious and Civil Law -- Internal Problems -- Corruption and Nepotism -- Economic Difficulties -- Social Unrest -- External Relations -- Reform Efforts -- Imperial Decline in the 18th and Early 19th Centuries -- Resistance to Change -- Chapter 7: Interpreting Feudal Concepts -- Feudalism in the 19th and 20th Centuries -- Modern Critiques -- Conclusion -- Glossary -- Bibliography -- Index -- Back Cover.