ThinkRankThe Three Orders
Overview
This chapter explores the social, economic, and political structure of Western Europe from the 9th to the 16th century, commonly known as Feudalism. It examines the relationship between the Church, the nobility, and the peasantry.
Learning Objectives
- Define Feudalism and the 'Three Orders'
- Explain the Manorial system and rural economy
- Assess the power and influence of the Catholic Church
- Analyze the causes of the social crisis in the 14th century
Key Concepts
The Social Hierarchy (Three Orders)
Society was divided into those who pray (Clergy), those who fight (Nobility), and those who work (Peasants). This system was based on land ownership and personal loyalty (vassalage).
Manorialism: The Economic Base
Lords lived on manors (self-sufficient estates) where serfs and peasants farmed the land in exchange for protection and a place to live. It was a closed rural economy.
The Catholic Church as a Landlord
The Church was not just a religious body but a massive landowner with its own laws and taxes (Tithe). Monasteries were centers of learning and economic activity.
Social and Economic Change
Technological improvements in agriculture (like the three-field system) led to food surpluses, the growth of towns, and the rise of a merchant class (the 'Fourth Order').
Key Terms
Examples
The Three-Field System
An agricultural innovation where land was divided into three parts, rotated between winter crops, spring crops, and fallow land, significantly increasing productivity.
The Black Death
The bubonic plague of the 14th century which decimated the European population, led to labor shortages, and ultimately contributed to the decline of serfdom.
Quick Check
- Who made up the 'First Order' in medieval Europe?
- What was the 'Tithe'?
- How did the Black Death affect the feudal system?