The book is dedicated to a key phenomenon in the world history of early feudal societies and civilizations - the polyudya complex, which combined economic, social, political, judicial, religious, ritual and other functions. Based on the material of more than a hundred societies of the Ancient East, South, East, South-East and Central Asia, Siberia, the Caucasus, Africa and Oceania, Eastern and Western Europe of the Middle Ages and modern times (until the beginning of the 20th century), the variety of forms of polyudya is shown, connection of this phenomenon with various social institutions.