Peasants

Peasants of medieval Europe could be divided into merchants, craftsmen, and serfs. The serfs were at the bottom level of the feudal system. They were the poorest class of people during the Middle Ages, and were considered a part of the land that a knight controlled. Serfs were expected to work that land in return for military protection. The serfs had to give the knights and nobles a share of their crops, and other services such as taking care of the livestock, mending clothes, spinning wool, cooking food, repairing the mills and roads, making tools out of wood or iron, and other chores. Serfs lived in small one-room houses with roofs made out of straw (called thatched roofs). Merchants and tradesmen were above serfs and were free to move about the country. Although relatively poor, merchants and craftsmen could earn money by trading their goods and services.

Nobles

The nobles were considered wealthy and important people during the Middle Ages. This included church officials. The king gave the nobles land and castles to live in. In exchange, the nobles promised money, service and protection to the king by providing knights when needed and paying him taxes. The nobles also gave some of their land to knights.

King

The feudal system began in France during the Middle Ages. It eventually spread to England when William the Conqueror became king in the year 1066. Kings ruled over a whole country and owned all the land. The land was too big for a king to control all by himself, so he divided up the land among his most important men, called nobles. In return, the king received soldiers and taxes.

Knights

Knights were an elite class of soldiers during the Middle Ages. They were given land from the nobles in exchange for loyalty, protection and military service. Knights would also give small portions of their land to peasants in exchange for food. They followed the chivalric code, which included bravery, piety (religious faith), courtly manners, and other ideals of honor and nobility. A young boy who wanted to become a knight would start training at around 7 years old. He was called a page. A page was sent to live at the home or castle of a noble. At 14 years old, the page would become a squire. A squire was a servant to a knight and followed him into battle. At the age of 21, a squire could finally become a knight if he proved himself to be worthy of the honor. He would be “knighted” in a ceremony led by a nobleman, or even sometimes the king!