RBSE Class 11 History Important Questions Chapter 6 The Three Orders

Rajasthan Board RBSE Class 11 History Important Questions Chapter 6 The Three Orders Important Questions and Answers. 

RBSE Class 11 History Important Questions Chapter 6 The Three Orders 

Very Short Answer Type Questions 

The Three Orders Class 11 Extra Questions And Answers Question 1. 
Name three orders of the Medieval European Society.
Answer:
The three orders of the Medieval European Society were :
(i) The Clergy
(ii) The Nobility
(iii) The Peasantry

The Three Orders Class 11 Questions And Answers Question 2. 
Write any three reasons, why the clergy was considered most important in medieval European social order ?
Answer:
It was because :
(i) Clergy had complete control over the other social orders of the society.
(ii) It enjoyed special privileges.
(iii) Nobody could disobey their orders. 

The Three Orders Class 11 Important Questions And Answers Question 3. 
What was the letter of indulgence ?    
Answer:
Document or letter of indulgences was issued by the Church. The Church said that these documents could free man from the burden of the sins he had committed. The Church was extorting money by selling these documents.

Three Orders Class 11 Questions And Answers Question 4. 
What were the two sections of the peasantry during medieval European society ?
Answer:
The two sections of the peasantry during medieval period were :
(a) Free Peasants 
(b) Serfs

Class 11 History Chapter 6 Extra Questions And Answers Question 5. 
What was Labour rent ?
Answer:
The serfs had to work along with his family members for at least 3 days or more days on the estates of the lords. The income generated from this labour (serfs) is known as labour rent.

The Three Orders Extra Questions Question 6. 
What were tithe and taille ?
Answer:
Tithe was the tax collected by the church from the peasants. It was fixed l/10th of the total produce while tax paid by the peasants to the king is termed as taille.

Three Orders Extra Questions Question 7. 
What restrictions were imposed on the serfs ?
Or
Write any four restrictions imposed on the serfs.
Answer:
Restrictions on the serfs :
(i) They can not leave the estate without the permission of their master/lords.
(ii) They were not allowed to offer prayer in the church.
(iii) They had no education right.
(iv) They could not marry their children without the concent of their master/lords.

Class 11 History The Three Orders Extra Questions Question 8. 
What types of duties serfs had accepted to do ?
Answer:
The serfs had to perform following type of duties :
(i) They had to serve in their lord’s army atleast 40 days in a year.
(ii) They had to do forced labour i.e., beggar, or labour rent.
(iii) They had to pay or deposit taille, a type of tax to the king.

Class 11 History The Three Orders Questions And Answers Question 9. 
What is meant by feudalism ?
Answer:
The term “feudalism” is derived from the German word ‘feud’ which means a ‘a piece of land’. In this way, feudalism was a system associated with land. It refers to a type of society which developed in medieval France and later in England and in southern Italy.

Three Orders Important Questions Question 10. 
What was the practice of Vassalage in Medieval Europe.
Answer:
The early feudal society was based on the lord-peasant relationship. The peasants worked in their fields as well as in the fields of the lord. In exchange of labour service the lords provided military security to the peasants. The lords also enjoyed vast judicial rights over the peasants.

Three Orders Class 11 Extra Questions Question 11. 
Write any three advantages of feudal system.
Answer:
Advantages of Feudal System :
(i) It helped in establishing law and order.
(ii) It set up an efficient administration.
(iii) It checked the powers of the absolute monarch.

Class 11 History Chapter The Three Orders Question Answer Question 12. 
What were the disadvantages of the feudal system ?
Answer:
Disadvantages of the feudal system:
(i) It weakened the monarchial system.
(ii) It encouraged the wars.
(iii) It hampered the process of national unity and integration.

Class 11 History Chapter 6 Questions And Answers Question 13. 
Write any three factors which paved the way for the decline of feudalism.
Answer:
The factors which led to the decline of feudalism were :
(i) Rise of new towns and cities.
(ii) Revolts by the peasants.
(iii) Growth of middle class.
(iv) Advent or use of money.

Class 11 History Three Orders Important Questions 14. 
Which rules were followed by the monks living in the St. Benedict Monastery ?
Answer:
(i) The monks living in St. Benedict Monastery followed the principle of celibacy.
(ii) They obeyed the order of chief of the monastery.
(iii) They cannot speak freely but were allowed to speak rarely.
(iv) They had to spent most of their time in meditation.
(v) They must performed physical exercise for some time in their daily life.

The Three Orders Important Questions 15. 
When and between whom crusades were fought ?
Answer:
Crusades were the religious wars. These wars were fought between the Muslims and the Christians during the period between 1096 to 1272.

Three Orders Class 11 Important Questions 16. 
Write any two reasons/factors responsible for 14th century crisis.
Answer:
Two factors responsible for 14th century crisis were:
(i) Lack of silver supply.
(ii) Environmental changes.

Class 11 History Ch 6 Question Answer Question 17. 
Who was responsible for the introduction of feudalism in England ?
Answer:
The French king William I was responsible for the introduction of feudalsim in England. He had conquered England in 1066.

Important Questions Of Three Orders Question 18. 
Which two factors are responsible for the rise of nation state during 16th century ?
Answer:
The two factors responsible for the rise of nation states were :
(i) End of feudal system.
(ii) Growth of new ideas.
(iii) Rise and growth of middle class.

Class 11 The Three Orders Important Questions 19. 
Who were ministrels ?
Answer:
In 12th century France, ministrels travelled from one manor to another, singing songs which told stories about brave kings and knights. Thus, they encouraged warriors.

Short Answer Type Questions

The Three Orders Question Answer Question 1. 
How did the nobles enjoy a privileged status ?
Answer:
The nobles enjoyed a privileged status as:
1. He had absolute control over his property, in perpetuity.
2.He could raise troops called ‘feudal levies’.
3. The lord held own courts of justice and could even coin his own money.

Question 2. 
Write a short note on Roman Catholics.
Answer:
The Roman Catholic Church was a powerful institution in Western Europe during the medieval times. The head of the church was Pope, who accepted as the Vicar of Christ. When Christianity was gradually accepted by the Roman emperors and, latest by Barbarian chiefs, the Pope became the leader of the Christian world in Western Europe. By the 6th century AD, Popes were the heads of the church as kings were heads of their principalities. Popes were often stronger than kings and could force kings to obey their orders.

Question 3. 
Give the causes of the growth of the towns in Europe during the Middle Age.
Answer:
1. During the Middle Ages the trade and commerce developed at a rapid speed. Most of the traders settled in the towns resulting in the development of towns.

2. Most of the towns had become free of control of the feudal lords. So most of the people left their villages and started settlings in the towns.

3. The traders who used to live in the towns became rich with their business. These traders helped a lot in the development of the new towns.

Extra Questions Of Three Orders Class 11 Question 4. 
Who was named France in the 6th century ?
Answer:
The Franks, a Germanic tribe gave their name to Gaul, making it ‘France’. From the 6th century, this region was a kingdom ruled by Frankish/French kings, who were Christian. The French had very strong links with the church, which were further strengthened when in 800 the Pope gave king Charlemagne the title of ‘Holy Roman Emperor’, to ensure his support.

Class 11 History Chapter 6 Important Questions In Hindi Question 5. 
Name the three orders of society.
Answer:
The three orders of society were broadly the clergy, the nobility and the peasantry. 

The Three Orders Class 11 Short Questions And Answers Question 6. 
What do you know about ‘vassalage’ ?
Answer:
Priests placed themselves in the first order and nobles in the second. The nobility had it reality a central role in social processes. This is because they controlled land. This control was the outcome of a practice called ‘vassalage’.

Class 11 Three Orders Important Questions 7. 
Describe the life of the Christian monks in a monastery during the medieval period in Europe.
Answer:
The men, who led the life of self-denial and self-control, were called monks.
1. The monks led the simple life of a self- denying ascetic.
2. They had to take a vow not to acquire any kind of worldly possession and not to get married.
3. They also took a vow to obey the chief of the monastery.
4. Their only mission in life was to pray and preach and to spread moral teachings among the common people.

The Three Orders Source Based Questions 8. 
Whose house was called manor ?
Answer:
The noble was the lord of all the people settled on his land. He owned vast tracts of land which contained his own dwellings, his private fields and pastures and the homes and fields of his tenant-peasants. His house was called a manor. His private lands were cultivated by peasants, who were also expected to act as foot- soldiers in battle when required in addition to working on their own farms.

Question 9. 
What was protestant reformation? What were the reasons for its emergence ?
Answer:
The Reformation Movement was a movement launched by Martin Luther against the prevailing wrong practices in the Roman Church. Supporters of this movement abolished corrupt practices and tried to establish an improved practice. They separated themselves from the Roman Church and set up a new Protestant Church.

(i) In the medieval age, the Roman Catholic Church enjoyed abundant powers, several evils had crept into it. The Renaissance created a common sense and rationality. Now people were losing their faith in the Church. They began to criticise worship and organisation of the Church.

(ii) The Pope enjoyed absolute powers. The Church officials were free from state laws. The Pope could interfere with the state functions. So kings were waiting for chance to get themselves free from the Pope.

(iii) Kings’ power increased with the rise of nation-states. They wanted to put a check on the Pope’s international rights. So the kings accelerated the Reformation Movement.

(iv) The clergymen were involved in immoral practices. So people’s faith in the Church minimised.

Question 10. 
Assess the position of the Pope lin the Medieval Europe.
Answer:
During the Medieval period in Europe the Pope enjoyed the position of importance. The Pope began to be regarded as the spiritual representative of Jesus Christ. In this capacity he started interfering into the internal affairs of the Christian kings and their subjects. The authority of the Pope became so effective that none among the Christian kings dared challenge him.

Question 11. 
Mention the political and economic importance of the feudal system.
Answer:
Political importance of the feudal system can be explained as follows:
(а) Politically, a new system of government developed. There was no central power and real power was exercised by the feudal lords.
(b) Lords provided protection to their people. They also maintained peace and harmony in their regions.
(c) The feeling of mutual understanding and co-operation was created among the people.

Economic importance of feudal system:
(a) Economically feudalism refers to a kind of agricultural production which is based on the relationship between lords and peasants.
(b) The peasants cultivated their own lands as well as that of the lord.
(c) The peasants performed labour services for the lords, who in turn provided them military protection.

Question 12. 
Describe the merits of Feudal System.
Answer:
(i) Feudalism provided security of life and property to the common people. 
(ii) The feudal lords established order during a period of disorder and confusion.
(iii) Feudalism exercised an effective check upon the autocratic rule of the kings.

Question 13. 
Describe the demerits of the Feudal System.
Answer:
(i) The feudal lords were always querrelling with one another to expand their own estates. As a result of it the peace and order in the society were often disturbed.
(ii) The feudal system proved an obstruction to the growth of political unity.
(iii) Feudalism was based on the exploitation of the common man. The feudal lords used to live the luxurious life while the peasants and other common men lived in the miserable conditions.

Question 14. 
What do you mean by the feud ? In which part of the world was it the main form of social organisation in Medieval times ?
Answer:
The word ‘feud’ originally meant a ‘flet’ or land given on the condition of service. Under this system all the land and its administration was given to the feudal lords. The feudal lords and not the king played a vital role in the administration of the country. In Medieval times feudalism was the main form of the social organisation in the Western Europe.    

Question 15. 
How did changing nature of population affect economy and society in Europe ?
Answer:
Long term changes in population levels affected the economy and society in the following ways :
(a) A number of towns came into being. They also became the centre of trade and commerce. Society became more advanced and civilised.

(b) This change brought about new changes in agricultural production. Production reached its peak. Good quality goods were produced which increased the life expectancy rate.

(c) Depopulation resulted in a mqjor shortage of labour. Serious imbalances were created between agriculture and manufacture because there were not enough people to engage in both equally. Prices of agricultural goods dropped as there were fewer people to buy.

(d) Wage rates increased because the demand for labour, particularly agricultural labour, rose in England by as much as 250 percent in the aftermath of the Black Death.

(e) Women spun and wove fabric and children worked in the lord’s wine presses.

(f) The manor could not be completely self-sufficient because salt, millstones and metal ware had to be obtained from outside.

Question 16. 
How were trade and cities affected by the plague ?
Answer:
Plague affected the trade and cities in the following manner :
(a) With the expansion of trade in the 13th and 14th centuries, ships carrying goods from distant countries had started arriving in European ports. Rats came alongwith ships carrying away the infection of bubonic plague.

(b) As trade centres, cities were the hardest hit. In enclosed communities like monasteries and convents, when one individual contracted the plague, it was not long before everyone did.

(c) The plague took its worse toll among infants, the young and the elderly.

(d) Plague also led to depopulation which resulted in major shortage of labour.

Question 17. 
Why did rich people donate their money to churches ?
Answer:
The rich merchants spent their money by making donations to churches. Large churches called cathedrals were being built in France. These belonged to monasteries, but different groups of people contributed to their construction with their own labour, materials or money. Cathedrals were built of stone, and took many years to complete. As they were being built, the area around the cathedrals became more populated, and when they were completed they became centres of pilgrimage.

Question 18. 
What is meant by the guild ?
Answer:
The basis of economic organisation was the guild. Each craft or industry was organised into a guild, an association which controlled the quality of the product, its price and its sale. The ‘guild-hall’ was a feature of every town; it was a building for ceremonial functions, and where the heads of all the guilds met formally. Guards patrolled the town walls and musicians were called to play at feasts and in civic processions, and innkeepers looked after travellers.

Question 19. 
Describe the role of medieval monasteries.
Answer:
1. Monasteries grew to large communities from small communites of 10 or 20 men/women often of several hundred, with large buildings and landed estates, the attached schools or colleges and hospitals.

2. They contributed to the development of the arts. Abbess Hildegard was a gifted musician, and did much to develop the practice of community singing of prayers in church.

3. From the thirteenth century, some groups of monks-called friarshose not to be based in a monastery but to move from place to place, preaching to the people and living on charity.

Question 20. 
Who were serfs ?
Answer:
Serfs: 
1. Serfs cultivated plots of land, but these belonged to the lord. Much of the produce from this had to be given to the lord.
2.They also had to work on the land which belonged exclusively to the lord. They received no wages and could not leave the estate without the lord’s permission.
3. The lord claimed a number of monopolis at the expense of his serfs.
4.Serfs could use only their lord’s mill to grind their flour, his oven to bake their.bread, and his wine presses to distil wine and beer.
5. The lord could decide whom a serf should marry, or might give his blessing to the serf’s choice but on payment of a fee.

Question 21. 
New trade routes with West Asia were developing. What was their effect ?
Answer:
By the eleventh century, new trade routes with West Asia were developing.
1. Scandinavian merchants were sailing south from the North Sea to exchange furs and hunting hawks for cloth; English traders came to sell tin.

2. In France, by the twelfth century, ’commerce and crafts began to grow. Earlier, craftsmen used to travel from manor to manor, now they found it easier to settle in one place where goods could be produed and traded for food.

3. As the number of towns grew and trade continued to expand, town merchants became rich and powerful, and rivalled the power of the nobility.

Question 22. 
Write a short note on ‘Manorial estate’.
Or
What was the Manorial Estates ? Mention its main characteristics.
Answer:
A medieval lord had his manor house. Villages were controlled by the lord where peasants used to live. Some lords controlled hundreds of villages. Around a dozen families were included in a manorial estate and around 50-60 families were included in larger estates.

Manorial estate had the following features :

1. Almost everything needed for daily life was found on the estate: grain was grown in the fields, blacksmiths and carpenters maintained the lord’s implements and repaired his weapons, while stonemasons looked after his buildings. Women spun and wove fabric, and children worked in the lord’s wine-presses.
2.The estate had extensive woodlands and forests where the lords hunted.
3. They contained pastures where his cattle and his horses grazed.
4.There was a church on the estate and a castle for defence.
5. From the thirteenth century, some castles were made bigger for use as residence for a knight’s family.
In fact, in England castles were practically unknown before the Norman Conquest, and developed as centres of political administration and military power under the feudal system.

Question 23. 
Why did knights become a distinct group under medieval European Society ?
Answer:
There was a frequent localised war in Europe from the ninth century. The amateur peasant soldiers were not sufficient, and good cavalry was needed. This led to the growing importance of a new section of people-the knights. They were linked to the lords, just as the later were linked to the king. The lord gave the knight a piece of land (called ‘fief) and promised to protect it. 

The fief could be inherited. It extended to anything between 1000 and 2000 acres or more including a house for the knight and his family, a church and other establishments to house his dependents, besides a water mill and a wine-press.

As in the feudal manor, the land of the fief was cultivated by peasants. In exchange, the knight paid his lord a regular fee and promised to fight for him in war. To keep up their skills, knights spent time each day fencing and practising tactics with dummies. A knight might serve more than one lord, but his foremost loyalty was to his own lord.

Question 24. 
Write the effect of environment on the European agriculture.
Answer:
1. From the fifth to the tenth centuries, most of Europe was covered with vast forests. Thus the land available for agriculture was limited. Also, peasants dissatisfied with their conditions could flee from oppression and take refuge in the forest.

2. Europe was undergoing an intensely cold climatic spell in this period. This led to severe and prolonged winters, a shortened growing season for crops, and reduced yields from agriculture.    .

3.From the eleventh century, Europe entered a warm phase. Average temperatures increased, which had a profound effect on agriculture. Peasants now had a longer growing seasons and the soil, now less subjected to frost, could be more easily ploughed.

4. Environmental historians have noted that there was significant receding of the forest line in many parts of Europe. This made expansion of the area under cultivation possible.

Question 25. 
Describe the life of a craftsman in a medieval French town.
Answer:
Peasants’ families had to set aside certain days of the week, usually three but often more, when they would go to the lord’s estate and work there. The output from such labour, called labour rent would go directly to the lord. In addition, they could be required to do other unpaid labour services, like digging ditches, gathering firewood, building fences and reparing roads and buildings. Besides helping in the fields, women and children had to do other tasks. They spun thread, wove cloth, made candles and pressed grapes to prepare wine for the lords’ use.

Question 26. 
‘Town air makes free’ was a popular saying. What does it mean ?
Or
How did a fourth order of society came into existence in Europe ?
Answer:
Town air makes free’ was a popular saying. This means :

1. Many serfs craving to be free ran away and hid in towns. If a serf could stay for one year and one day without his lord discovering him, he would become a free man.

2. Many people in towns were free peasants or escaped serfs who provided unskilled labour. Shopkeepers and merchants were numerous. Later there was need for individuals with specialised skills, like bankers and lawyers. The bigger towns had populations of about 30,000. They could be said to have formed a ‘fourth’ order.

Question 27. 
Describe the class systems in European society under the feudal system.
Answer:
(i) Feudal classes : The king stood at the top. He bestowed lands to a number of lords. These lords distributed lands to lesser lords called Barons. The Dukes and Earls were ’ king’s Vassals. They showed allegiance to the king. In the time of war the king could demand military help from his Vassals. The feudal lords kept soldiers. They levied taxes.

(ii) The peasants: The peasants formed the lowest class. Their number was largest in society. The peasants were divided into many classes-free holders and villeins. 

(iii) New class : A new class sprang up. It was the middle class.

(iv) Reasons for its development: With the coming of new inventions trade and industries developed. In this way a middle class emerged in the cities.

Question 28. 
How did the towns grow again after the fall of Roman Empire ?
Answer:
Towns grew again after the fall of the Roman Empire because :
(а) From the 11th century, as agriculture increased and was able to sustain higher levels of population, towns began to grow again.
(b) Peasants who had surplus grains to sell, needed a place where they could set up a selling centre and where they could buy tools and cloth. This led to the growth of periodic fairs and small marketing centres.

Question 29. 
Describe the causes of the development of cities in Medieval Europe.
Answer:
(i) The crusades forced the Christians to travel in foreign lands where they came to know of many new objects of comfort and luxury. The demand for new objects gave a great impetus to trade and industry and let to the rise of towns.

(ii) The emergence of feudalism was accompanied by the decline of trade and towns but with the gradual decline of feudalism, particularly from the 11th century onward, once again rise to trade and towns.

(iii) The rise of the middle class towards the end of the Middle Ages also led to the emergence of towns. The economic prosperity of this class helped in the development of towns.

(iv) The contact between the East and West encouraged trade and commerce which untimately led to the establishment of arts and crafts at different centres. These centres also slowly became towns.

Question 30. 
Explain the Europeans’ beliefs in magic and folk traditions.
Answer:
1. Christmas and Easter became important dates from the fourth century. Christ’s birth, celebrated on 25 December, replaced an old pre-Roman festival, the date of which was calculated by the solar calendar. Easter marked the crucifixion of Christ and his rising from the dead.

2. Traditionally, on Easter people of each village used to make a tour of their village lands. With the coming of Christianity, they continued to do this, but they called the village the ‘parish’ (the area under the supervision of one priest).

3. Overworked peasant welcomed ‘holy days’/holidays because they were not expected to work then. These days were meant for prayer, but people usually spent a good part of them having fun and feasting.

Question 31. 
Explain the causes of social unrest between 1323 to 1381.
Answer:
(a) The Economic crisis of the 14th century badly hit the income of the lords. This income declined because of two reasons - wages of the labourers increased and agricultural prices came down.

(b) In desperation, the lords tried to terminate the money contracts which they had entered into and revive labour services. The better educated and prosperous peasants opposed it violently. They revolted in 1323 in Flander, in 1358 in France and in 1381 in England.

Question 32. 
Why was agricultural technology very primitive ?
Answer:
1. At this time the mechanical aid available to the peasant was the wooden plough, drawn by a team of oxen. This plough could at best scratch the surface of the earth and was unable to fully draw out the natural productivity of the soil. Agriculture was therefore very labour intensive. Fields had to be dug by hand often once in four years, and enormous manual labour was required.

2. Also, an ineffective method of crop rotation was in use. The land was divided in half, one field was planted in autumn with winter wheat, while the other field was left fallow. Rye was planted on this piece of fallow land the next year while the other half was put to fallow.

3. With this system, the soil slowly deteriorated, and famines were not uncommon.

4. Chronic malnutrition alternated with devastating famines and life was difficult for the poor.

Question 33. 
Explain the change that came into feudal bonds in Europe in the 11th century and what was its result.
Answer:
From the 11th century the personal bonds that had been the basis of feudalism were weakening, because economic transactions were becoming more and more money based. Lords found it convenient to ask for rent in cash, not services and cultivators were selling their crops for money to traders.

Result : The increasing use of money began to influence prices, which became higher in times of poor harvest. In England, for instance, agricultural prices doubled between the 1270s and the 1320s.

Question 34. 
Which values enhance the status of nobility ?
Answer:
The Values which enhance the status of nobility were :
(i) Their emmence wealth
(ii) Their social status
(iii) Their political image
(iv) Their property
(v) Their judicial role

Question 35. 
What was the effect of the rise of towns in medieval Europe on the life of people.
Answer:
The rise of towns in medieval Europe deeply affected the life of people.
(а) Social life of Europe saw several changes due to the rise of towns. It weakened the set up of the feudal society.
(b) Personal liberty gained greater importance.
(c) The rise of towns helped in the progress of industries and trade growth of trade expanded the use of coins.
(d) It was because of the rise of towns that education spread and religious reform movements strengthened.
Thus the rise of towns took the life of people to the path of progress.

Question 36. 
Define medieval age. Write its main features.
Answer:
The term medieval age refers to the period in European history between the 5th and the 15th centuries. Main features of this age are :
(a) The Church was a powerful institution of medieval age.
(b) Feudalism emerged in this age which played a very important role in the political and economic life of Europe.
(c) There was no central authority in medieval age. That is why is also known as ‘Dark Age’.

Question 37. 
How do we get information of history of Western Europe ?
Answer:
(a) We get information of Western Europe from the records of Churches about births, marriages and deaths.
(b) The inscriptions in Churches gave information about trade associations.
(c) Songs and stories gave a sense of festivals and community activities.

Question 38. 
How did Gaul become France ? What was the position of France by the eleventh century ?
Answer:
Gaul was a province of the Roman Empire. It had mountain ranges, extensive coastline, forests, long river and large tracts of plains good for agriculture. One Germanic tribe, the Franks, gave teir name and made it ‘France’. From the sixth century, this region was ruled by Franckish/French Christian Kings. The French had very strong relations with the Church. 

These relations were further strengthened when in 800 CE, king Charlemagne was given the title of‘Holy Roman Emperor’ by the Pope to ensure his support. In eleventh century, a duke from the French province of Normandy, conquered the island of England-Scotland across a narrow channel.

Question 39. 
What were the views of Abbess Hildegard about the differences in the world ?
Answer:
In the twelfth centure, Abbess Hildegard wrote that, has any one thought of keeping all the cattles in one stable - cows, donkeys, sheep, goats and they are kept withou any difference.

Question 40. 
What are the differences among humans created by the God ?
Answer:
Even God has created differences among humAnswer:So it is a must to establish difference among human beings, so that they do not destroy each-other. God has made distinctions among his flock, in heaven as on earth. All are. loved by him, yet there is no equality among them.

Question 41. 
How would you like to explain the value of equality in the word ?
Answer:
All the creatures are created by God but equality does not exist between human beings and animals like donkeys, sheep, goat, etc. Human beings can demand for equality but how can these animals.

Question 42. 
How were cathedrals designed?
Answer:
(a) Cathedrals were designed so that the priest's voice could be heard clearly within the hall from where large numbers of people gathered and so that the singing by monks could sound beautiful and the chining over a great distance.
(b) Stained glass was used for windows. These windows narrated the stories in the Bible through pictures, which illiterate people could read. 

Long Answer Type Questions 

Question 1. 
Who were the feudal lords ? Describe their functions and relations with the peasants and serfs.
Answer:
The institution that was common in Medieval Europe is called ‘Feudalism'. The lords who held the ‘fief on condition of service to the king, were called the ‘Feudal Lords’. They, in their respective ‘fiefs’ were all powerful and acted as petty kings.

The categories of the Feudal Lords are :
(i) King
(ii) Dukes and Earls
(iii) The Barons
(iv) The Knights
(v) The Peasants

Main Functions of Feudal Lords : Every feudal lord was expected to pay homage to his overlord and could then be invested with some formal rights. He also had to provide the military services to his superior lords. Every feudal lord was first a vassal and then an overlord with a number of vassals of the king him. For example the Dukes and Earls were the vassals of the king and owed him allegiance. 

The Barons were the vassals of the Dukes and the Earls. The knights were the vassals 6f the Barons. They performed military service to their overlords. The relations of feudal lords with the peasants and serfs : The peasants and serfs had land which they cultivated for themselves.But, they had also to work on the lands cultivated entirely for their lords. In fact the serfs were the domestics of their lords. They had no right and no freedom. They were living in miserable conditions.  

 

Question 2. 
Describe the different classes of European society in the Medieval period.
Answer:
The society of the Medieval period of Europe can be divided mainly into two classes:    
(i) Feudal lords    
(ii) The peasantry    

The feudal system in Europe had a graded 1 organisation which is sometimes called ‘Feudal Pyramid’. The main features of the social organisation of the feudal system in Europe are given below :    
(i) The King: The king was on the top of this organisation. All the feudal lords were under the king. He used to take a part of the revenue collections which the feudal lords had from their areas or lands of agriculture.

(ii) Dukes and Earls : The second powerful class of the feudal system consisted of the ‘Dukes’ and ‘Earls’. The king bestowed the estates on a number of Dukes and Earls who owned loyalty to the king. 

(iii) Barons or lower lords : The Earls and Dukes distributed the parts of their estates to the lower lords called “Barons”. In return for that they provided military support to the Dukes or Earls whenever required.

(iv) The Knights : The knights formed the lowest category of feudal lords. Mostly they were the vassals of the Barons and provided them military service.

(v) The Peasants: The peasants formed the lowest class in the feudal system. They cultivated and managed the land which they received from their lords.

The peasants were divided in three classes: 

(i) The Free Peasants,
(ii) The Slave Peasants, 
(iii) The Bonded Peasants (Serfs).
The new classes during the later year of the Middle Ages: During the Middle Ages there emerged a new class in the society known as the “Middle Class”. The middle class consists of mainly : 
(i) The traders, 
(ii) The merchants, 
(iii) The artists and artisans, 
(iv) Educated professionals.

The main reasons which led to the rise of the middle class are :

(i)  A large number of feudal lords had been killed in the Holy Crusades.
(ii) The invention of the gun-powder helped the kings in supressing the feudal lords.
(iii) The growth of commerce made the trading class quite rich. They, in turn sought the king’s favour and helped him whenever called for.
(iv) At many places the wealthy merchants and rich traders got many towns and cities freed from the feudal control by paying for them. Soon these new cities grew into the centres of trade, commerce and education consequently giving rise to the new class.
(v) The new class of the rich merchants patronized art, science, literature and education. In this way they got a prominent position in the society.

Question 3.
Discuss the chief features of Feudalism.
Answer:
Chief features of feudalism or organization structure of Feudalism :
(i) Tenants-in-Chief : The nobles or Tenants-in-Chiefs distributed the land granted to them by the king to the smaller lords known as the ‘Sub-tenants'. Thus the Tenants-in-Chief had their own Vassals.

(ii) Sub-Tenants and Serfs : The Subtenants further gave lands to the peasants for farming. Thee peasants were known as ‘Serfs or Villeins'. They were in a way, forced to till the lands of their lord and pay him a greater share of their produce. The Serfs were almost tied to the land and they lived like slaves at the mercy of their landlords. They could not leave their masters without their will.

(iii) Freemen: This category consisted of merchants, traders, artisans, professional soldiers etc., who were without any obligations to the fuedal lords.

(iv) Oath of Allegiance and Investiture : Both the lord and the vassals had to take oath of allegiance.

Question 4. 
Describe the technological changes and its effect in agriculture during the 11th century.
Or
How did technological changes affected agriculture during the 11th century in Europe ?
Answer:
Technological changes affected agriculture in many ways :

(a) Wooden ploughs were replaced with heavy iron-tipped ploughs. With this the nutrients from the soil were better utilized, as these ploughs could dig much deeper.

(b) The methods of harnessing animals to the plough improved. Instead of the neck- harness, the shoulder harness came into use. This enabled animals to exert greater power. Horses were now better shod, with iron horseshoes which prevented foot decay.

(c) There was the switch from a two-field to a three-field land use system. In this, the peasants could use a field for two years out of three if they planted it with one crop in autumn and a different crop in spring a year and a half later. They could plant one with wheat or lye in autumn for human consumption. Each year they rotated the use among the three fields.

(d) With these improvements, there was an almost immediate increase in the amount of food produced from each unit of land. Food availability doubled.

(e) The greater use of plants like peas and beans meant more vegetable proteins in the diet of the average European and a better source of fodder for their animals.

Question 5. 
Describe the merits of Feudalism.
Answer:
Merits of Feudalism : Feudalism, which was prevalent in the Middle Ages, had the following merits :

(i)  Maintenance of Peace and Order: The invasions of the barbaric tribes had created chaos and confusion. Though feudalism was not a perfect system of government yet it established peace and order which was the most pressing need of the hour.

(ii) Encouragement to Bravery and Chivalry : Feudal lords took keen interest in military organisation and highly prized the personal bravery and skill. Thus feudalism encouraged bravery and chivalry. Dr. J.E. Swain, observes, “Chivalry promoted in medieval society a higher standard of honour, greater generosity and an attitude of reverance.”

(iii) Improvement in Administration : Feudal lords took great interest in maintaining law and order and in improving the administration and laws in their estates. Thus feudalism provided improved methods of administration, justice and defence.

(iv) Development of Morality : The Lords and Vassals were very keen to keep up their mutual contract. It developed a high regard for truth, honesty and promise. Various customs of knighthood created respect for women. Thus feudalism helped in the development of morality in the society.

(v) Checked the Autocracy of Kings :
Both the kings and the lords were equally bound by the contract. At the same time the powers of the kings were divided among the feudal lords. In this way feudalism checked the autocratic and arbitrary tendencies of the kings. King John of England had to sign the Mgna-Carta under the pressure of the nobles.

(vi) Development of Agriculture, Trade and Industry : In order to improve their economic condition, the lords paid special attention to improve agriculture. They constructed roads and encouraged trade and industry. They also built beautiful and strong forts for the protection of their subjects.

(vii) Lessons in Citizenship : In the pyramidical system of feudalism all were bound by the contract. Hence the people learnt the good lessons of citizenship that rights and duties are inter-related and that rights are earned only performing duties.

Question 6. 
Describe the causes led to the decline of feudalism.
Answer:
Feudalism flourished in Europe from the eighth to the twelfth century A.D. It, however, began to decline in the 15th century. The following causes led to its downfall:

(i) Rise of the Powerful Kingdoms : Powerful monarchies rose in France, Spain and England etc., in the 15th century. The rise of the powerful monarchies led to the decline of feudalism. They, like Tudor monarchs, devised various methods to crush the power of the feudal lords.

(ii) Destruction of the Feudal Lords in different Wars : Many nobles died in mutual and constant warfare, Crusades, Hundred Years’, Wars, War of Roses, etc. Those who survived were so much improvisershed that they had no power and means to face the strong monarchs.

(iii) Rise of Nationalism : The rapid spread of education aroused the spirit of nationalism. The feudal lords were selfish to the core and deadly opposed to nationalism. As a result, the educated people turned against feudalism and could not tolerate its existence. Now they side with their ruler and not with the lords. As a result rulers like Elizabeth became all powerful, despotic and took parts in party, picnic etc.

(iv) Rise of the Middle Class : New inventions encouraged trade and industry. This led to the rise of the middle class in towns and cities. The middle class desired peace for the promotion of commerce, industry and crafts. They wanted to pet rid of the nobles who were always engaged in constant wars.

Question 7. 
Describe the contribution made by the Medieval Church in the fields of education, drama, music and architecture.
Answer:
(i) Contribution in the field of Education : During the Medieval Ages, the work of imparting education to the people was done by the church. Only the priests were able to read and write and they too, provided education to the monks through the medium of Latin.

(ii) Contribution in the field of Drama : In the Medieval Age very few people could read. There was very little to read as books were almost scarce. Therefore drama became the most powerful medium of education. Plays in the local dialects were written to entertain as well as to educate the people who did not know Latin. Miracle plays enacted scenes of the lives of saints and moral plays usually depicted the struggle between good and bad. The plays were usually enacted in the churches and the actors were mostly drawn from the clergymen through laymen.

(iii) Music : Church singing was chiefly choral, therefore certain new melodies were tried and developed. But music was chiefly religious.

(iv) Architecture: The notable buildings during the Middle Ages were either castles or the chruches, which provide the best specimen of the medieval architecture in Europe. The churches were build in imitation of the Roman basilica and had spacious central halls and round arches with rows of columns.

Massive walls supported the barrel-valuted heavy ceiling. Later on, in the 12th century; the Gothic style was developed and windows were provided to let in more light inside the church. The lancet arches were pointed which alongwith' the stained glass window panes, added beauty to the buildings so that churches came to be regarded as the best specimen of the Gothic architecture.

Question 8. 
By the beginning of the 14th century, the economic expansion of Europe slowed down. What were the reasons behind it?  
Answer:
Europe's economic expansion slowed down by the early fourteenth century because of the following factors :
(i) Changes in Climatic Conditions : By the end of the thirteenth century, the warm of the previous 300 years of northern Europe had been replaced by the bitterly cold summers. Seasons for growing crops were reduced atleast by a month. On higher altitudes, it became almost impossible to grow crops. Many agricultural farms were destroyed by storms and oceanic flooding. As a result, government's income, in taxes, was reduced.

(ii) Intensive Ploughing : The favourable climate before the thirteenth century had converted many forests and pastures into agricultural land. But the soil was exhausted with intensive agriculture despite the practice of the three field roatation of crops. It happened because of lack of proper soil conservation. Number of cattle was also reduced due to short of pastures.

(iii) Shortage of Metal Money : Output from the silver mines in Austria and Serbia was reduced which resulted in the severe shortage of metal money. Consequently, trade was hit. This shortage of silver forced the government to reduce the silver content of the currency. The government started to mix cheaper metals in the silver to make coinage. 

(iv) Bubonic Plague Infection : Trade expanded in the 13th and 14th centuries. Ships carrying goods from far off countries started arriving in European parts. Rats came along with the ships. These rats were carrying deadly bubonic plague infection. As a result, Western Europe was greatly affected by this infection between 1347 and 1350. 

The epidemic killed 20% of the people of the whole of Europe. At some places, number of the dead was as much as 40% of the population. Cities were the hardest hit. The plague affected infants, the young and the elderly. Many other minor episodes of the plague also took place in the 1360s and the 1370s. As a result, the population of Europe reduced to 45 million in 1400 CE from 73 million in 1300CE.

Question 9. 
Explain the third order of the feudal system.
Answer:
Third order of the feudal system comprised of the cultivators. Cultivators were of two kinds :
1. Free Peasants : They had the following features:
(a) They held their farms as tenants of the lord and they had to render military service.
(b) Peasant families had to set aside certain days of the week when they would go to the lord's estate and work there. Output from such labour, called labour-rent would go - directly to the lord.
(c) In addition, peasants were required to; do other unpaid labour services like digging ditches, gathering firewood, building fences and repairing roads and building.
(d) There was one direct tax called ‘taille’ that kings sometimes imposed on peasants.

2. Serfs :
(a) They cultivated plots of land, but these belonged to the lord. Much of the produce from this land had to be given to the lord.
(b) Serfs also had to work on the land which belonged exclusively to the lord.
(c) They received no wages and could not leave the estate without the lord's permission.
(d) The lord claimed a number of monopolies at the expense of his serfs.
(e) The lord could decide whom a serf should marry or might give his blessings to the serfs choice, but on payment of a fee.

Question 10. 
How did cathedral towns of France emerged ?
Answer:
Cathedral towns of France emerged due to the following reasons :
(a) Rich merchants made big donations to churches. So large churches began to be build in France. These churches were known as cathedrals.


(b) Although the church belonged to monasteries, yet different groups of people contributed to their construction with their own labour, money and material. During the course of construction of cathedrals, the area around cathedrals became populated. They became centres of pilgrimage when they were completed. Thus small towns developed around them. These were known as the cathedral towns.

Question 11. 
What were the political changes in Europe during 15th and 16th centuries ?
Answer:
1. In the 15th and 16th centuries, European kings strengthened their military and financial power. The powerful new states they created were as significant for Europe as the economic changes that were occurring. Historians have therefore called these kings ‘the new monarchs’.

2. Louis XI in France, Maximilian in Austria, Henry VII in England and Isabelle and Ferdinand in Spain were absolutist rulers, who started the process of organising standing armies, a permanent bureaucracy and national taxation and in Spain and Portugal, began to play a role in Europe’s expansion overseas,

3. Rulers dispensed with the system of feudal levies for their armies and introduced professionally trained infantry equipped with guns and siege artillery directly under their control.

4.The most important reason for the triumph of these monarchies was the social changes which had taken place in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. The dissolution of the feudal system of lordship and vassalage, and the slow rate of economic growth had given the first opportunity to kings to increase their control over their powerful and not so powerful subjects.

5.By increasing taxes, monarchs got enough revenues to support larger armies and thus defended and expanded their frontiers and overcome internal resistance to royal authority. Centralisation, however, did not occur without resistance from the aristocracy. In England, rebellions occurred in 1497,1536, 1547, 1549 and 1553.

6. In France, Louis XI (1461-83) had to wage a long struggle against dukes and princes. Lesser nobles, often members of local assemblies, resisted this royal usurpation of their powers. The ‘religious’ wars in France in the sixteenth century were in part a contest between royal privileges and regional liberties.

7.The king was no longer at the apex of a pyramid where loyalty had been a matter of personal dependence and trust, He was now at centre of an elaborate courtier society and a network of patron-client relationships.

8. Patronage became the means of ensuring such co-operation. And patronage could be given or obtained by means of money.

9.The nobility managed a tactical shift in order to ensure their survival. From being opponents to the new regimes, they quickly transformed themselves into loyalists. It is for this reason that royal absolutism has been called a modified form of feudalism.

Question 12. 
What were agriculture related problems in Europe in the initial stage ? What was its effect on the life of people ?
Answer:
Agriculture related problems in Europe in the initial stage were as follows :
(i) There was quite primitive agricultural technology. Only one mechanical aid was available to the peasant and that was the wooden plough. It was drawan by a pair of oxen. This plough was only able to scratch the earth’s surface. It was not possible for this plough to completely draw out the natural productivity of the soil. Therefore hard labour was required for agriculture. After every four years, fields had to be dug by hand and it required very hard manual labour.

(ii) An effective method of crop rotation was in use. Whole of the land was divided into two parts. Wheat was sown in one half in winters and the second half was left fallow. Rye was planted on this part of land next year and then the half was put to fallow. Effect on Life of People : Soil was deteriorated with this sytem. Frequent famines were there. Devatating famines and malnutrition made life very difficult for the poor people. 

Source Based Questions 

1. Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow :

In Benedictine monasteries, there was a manuscript with 73 chapters of rules which were followed by monks for many centuries. Here are some of the rules they had to follow.
Chapter 6 : Permission to speak should rarely be granted to monks.
Chapter 7 : Humility means obedience.
Chapter 33 : No monk should own private property.
Chapter 47 : Idleness is the enemy of the soul, so friars and sisters should be occupied at certain times in manual labour, and at fixed hours in sacred reading.
Chapter 48 : The monastery should be laid out in such a way that all necessities be found within its bounds: water, mill, garden, workshops.

(i) Where was Benedict monastry ?
Answer:It was in France.

(ii) How many rules were followed by Benedict monks and nuns ?
Answer:The monks and nuns living in this monastry had to follow 73 rules.

(iii) Write any two values which these rules promote.
Answer:
Values depicted by the rules laid down by this monastry were :
(a) Humanism
(b) Truth
(c) Obedience of order
(d) Fulfillment of all necessities of life.

(iv) Write the two merits and demerits of medieval monasteries in Europe.
Answer:
Merits of the Medieval Monasteries : There is no denying fact that the medieval monasteries did many useful works. It had many merits :
(i) As discussed above, these monasteries were the only centres of learning during the medieval period.
(ii) These monks residing in the monasteries initially led a very pious life and they served the people like a nurse or a foster-mother.

Demerits : However, with the passage of time, these monasteries developed certain demerits :
(i) Soon the monasteries began to acquire land and amass wealth. Within no time they became a seat of exploitation rather than of service.
(ii) In the beginning, the monks led a pious life but with the passage of time, they began to lead a scandalous life and monasteries became a seat of corruption. 

Question 2.
'If my dear lord is slain, his fate I’ll share, 
If he is hanged then hang me by his side, If to the stake he goes, with him I’ll burn; And if he is drowned, then let me drown with him; 
Doon de Mayence, a 13th century French poem(to be sung) recounting the adventures of knights.
(i)  Who were knights? What work did they do?    
(ii) On the basis of the poem above what admirable qualities of the knights do we come to know about?    
Answer:
(i) There were frequent localised wars in Europe from the ninth century onwards. Good cavalry was required for wars. It increased the importance of a new section of people who were called as the knights.

(ii) (a) To keep up their skills, knights spent time each day fencing and practising tactics with dummies.

(b) In France, from the twelfth century, minstrels travelled from manor to manor, singing songs which told stories - partly historical, partly invented - about brave kings and knights. Thus the poem narrate their skills on the basis of their bravery and skill.

Map Question

Question 1.
On the map of western Europe mark and locate the extent of Feudalism. 
Answer:

Choose the Correct Option:

Question 1. 
Into how many orders European society was divided during 9th to 16 th century ?
(a) Three    
(b) Two
(c) Four    
(d) Seven
Answer:
(a) Three.

Question 2. 
Which of these belong to social order of European society ?
(a) Nobility
(b) Clergy
(c) Peasantry 
(d) All of these
Answer:
(d) All of these

Question 3. 
Which social order enjoyed the privileges ?
(a) Clergy    
(b) Peasantry
(c) Serfs    
(d) None of these
Answer:
(a) Clergy. 

Question 4. 
Which of one of these social orders burdened with heavy taxation ?
(a) Clergy
(b) Peasantry
(c) Serfs
(d) All of these 
Answer:
(b) Peasantry.

Question 5. 
The church used to called a special kind of tax from peasantry known as ..........................
(a) House tax    
(b) Land Revenue
(c) Tithe    
(d) Chauth
Answer:
(c) Tithe

Question 6. 
How much population of medieval European society composed of peasantry ?
(a) 10%    
(b) 48%
(c) 80-90%    
(d) 60-65%
Answer:
(c) 80-90%.

Question 7. 
Where did the monks live ?
(a) Shelters    
(b) Rest houses
(c) Big Cities    
(d) Monasteries
Answer:
(d) Monasteries.

Question 8. 
Which of following tax is collected the directly by the church ?
(a) Manor    
(b) Fief
(c) Tithe    
(d) Taille
Answer:
(c) Tithe

Question 9. 
Which of these official appointed by the church ?
(a) Archbishops    
(b) Bishops
(c) Priest    
(d) All of these
Answer:
(d) All of these.

Question 10. 
Who collected taille ?
(a) The Priest
(b) The Nobles
(c) The King (Monarch)
(d) The Peasantry 
Answer:
(c) The King (Monarch).

Question 11. 
It was known as the central pillar of Medieval European Society:
(а) The Feudalism
(b) The Monarch 
(c) The Church
(d) None of the above 
Answer:
(a) The Feudalism.

Question 12. 
‘Gaul’ province was the part of:
(а) Ottoman Empire
(б) Roman Empire
(c) Habsburg Empire
(d) Napoleon’s Empire 
Answer:
(b) Roman Empire.

Question 13. 
Where did Feudalism take her roots?
(a) Germany    
(b) England
(c) France    
(d) Italy
Answer:
(c) France.

Question 14. 
Who was bestowed upon the title of Holy Roman emperor in 800 CE?
(а) Charlemagne
(b) Clovis
(c) Napoleon Franks
(d) JameXIV 
Answer:
(a) Charlemagne.

Question 15. 
Who had the supreme authority in organisation of the church ?
(a) Bishops    
(b) Priests
(c) Archbishops    
(d) Pope
Answer:
(d) Pope.

Question 16. 
When was Cluny Monastry established ?
(a) 529 CE    
(b) 910 CE
(c) 529 BCE    
(d) 910 BCE
Answer:
(b) 910 CE.

Question 17. 
Who was the founder of St. Benedict Monastry ?
(a) Saint Benedict
(b) Saint Jesuit
(c) Monarch James Thorpe
(d) William-I 
Answer:
(a) Saint Benedict.

Question 18. 
Guilds were    
(a) Trading units
(b) Group of weavers
(c) Group of crafts persons
(d) Group of architects 
Answer:
(a) Trading units.