Quote Originally Posted by Gelatinous Cube
One might say that true Medieval Fuedalism didn't occur until the Knight Social class had already been established.
Then it surely didn't start with Charlemagne, right?

It probably didn't start before c. 1100 then too.

The thing that makes this heirarchy unique is the religion. There's never been any other example of such an elaborate system of existence, and Christianity is, IMO, the prime ingredient. It was the church that instilled in people the faith to go along with the system, it was the church that proclaimed knights were a valid persuit (despite Thou Shalt Not Kill) if they would go on crusade, it was the church who permeated all social classes and was the glue that held it together.
You don't consider Japan to have developed a feudal system?