I have a general understanding of the feudal stereotype but recently a friend told me this was completely debunked by modern academics. What is the current consensus of what Feudalism was or how it worked? I understand this is super broad but any detail would be appreciated.
Not much gets medieval historians going like questions about feudalism and whether it's an accurate or useful concept. There's a section in the FAQ on the subject, including a Feudalism Didn't Exist AMA. That should keep you occupied for a while!
(edit: stupid mistakes.)