What were the main features of the feudal hierarchy?

History The Feudal System Questions



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What were the main features of the feudal hierarchy?

The main features of the feudal hierarchy were:

1. Monarch: At the top of the hierarchy was the monarch, who held ultimate power and owned all the land in the kingdom.

2. Nobles: Below the monarch were the nobles, who were granted land by the monarch in exchange for their loyalty and military service. They held significant power and were responsible for governing their own territories.

3. Knights: Knights were the warriors of the feudal system. They were granted land by the nobles and in return, they provided military service and protection to the nobles and their territories.

4. Peasants: The majority of the population consisted of peasants, who were the lowest class in the feudal hierarchy. They worked the land owned by the nobles and knights in exchange for protection and a portion of the crops they produced.

5. Serfs: Serfs were a type of peasant who were bound to the land they worked on. They were not allowed to leave the land or marry without the permission of their lord. They were obligated to provide labor, pay taxes, and give a portion of their crops to the lord.

6. Manorialism: The feudal system was based on the economic system of manorialism, where the land was divided into self-sufficient manors. Each manor had its own lord, who controlled the land and the peasants who worked on it.

7. Feudal obligations: The feudal hierarchy was held together by a system of mutual obligations and duties. The nobles provided protection and justice to the peasants, while the peasants provided labor and resources to the nobles.

Overall, the feudal hierarchy was characterized by a rigid social structure, with power and wealth concentrated in the hands of the monarch and nobles, while the majority of the population lived as peasants or serfs.