@SandHillThicket The serfs had to embrace the pain under Feudalism. Interesting it that last time there was Feudalism it coincided with the dark ages of Europe.
I do think #muskrat sees USA as his Feifdom.
The onset of the dark ages preceded feudalism, which evolved due to the presence of certain dark age conditions: The lack of strong central authorities, devolution of authority to local officials (who soon became hereditary lords), endemic warfare between these lords, and the consequent rise of a military caste. Also, the lack of a money economy for anything other than luxury items, which meant that wealth was measured in grain, land, and military service.
@DavidSalo @SandHillThicket Per Britannica they over lapped some. With Dark ages from 500 to 1000am and Feudalism 5th- 12th centuries (so 400ad-1200)
The Musk version will be measured in crypto.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/feudalism
https://www.britannica.com/event/Dark-Ages
The article you linked to does not say that feudalism existed from the 5th to 12th centuries, but that it existed during the early Middle Ages, which (by their scheme) lasted from the 5th to 12th century.
But nothing remotely resembling feudalism existed in the 5th century. Or the 6th, or the 7th, or the 8th. Feudalism is a product of the dissolution of the Carolingian Empire, as the article notes.
@Lucky188 We are definitely in the Second Dark Ages.