feudal

When the Song dynasty took over China in the late 10th century, the feudal system that gave aristocrats control of land and peasants in return for military service was breaking down.

The government has described the wider leasehold system in England and Wales as "feudal", and that it had "fallen woefully short of the dreams of homeowners".

Both the previous Conservative and the current Labour governments have called it "feudal" and vowed to reform it but campaigners say they've waited decades for change.

But there are significant differences between then and now: Under the feudal system, the lord had, in principle, certain obligations to peasants in addition to his right to command them.

He's only ever known a feudal life in this 150-strong sanctuary, connected to the quarantined mainland by a single, heavily defended causeway that's only accessible at low tide.