Medieval age - when ?

[Hurin_Rules]

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?

[Aenlic]

GelatinousCube, I think you're confusing Buddhism with something else, possibly Confucianism or Hinduism. Neither Theravada Buddhism nor Mahayana Buddhism teach anything about a rigid class structure. The rigid caste system in India might be blamed on the Hindu concept of dharma, which is fulfilling one's duty; but Hinduism certainly wouldn't apply to Japan. Confucianism emphasizes an adherence to social structures and civic duty; but again doesn't really apply to Japan. Shinto is a shamanistic/ancestor based belief system which really contains nothing which deals with the idea of rigid social structures and subservience. The feudal structure in Japan wasn't the result of religion.

[Incongruous]

Could Feudalism have begun by the late Roman Empire?
Or was its start with the conquests of Charlamgne?
Feudalism was a completely millitary concept was it not? where by an overlord would hand out land to his followers in return for that mans own millitary service and his own sub-tenants or retainers. So it has nothing to do with Knights. Is that not correct?

[Hurin_Rules]

Part of the confusion over the use of the term feudalism is that it can be used in a specific or a general sense. When confined to the former, it can be quite useful: I usually use it only as a system of military organization. But others apply it to everything, from manorialism and a subject peasantry to literature and worldview. So yes, it can mean many things.