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Farmers In The Feudal System

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Farmers in the Feudal System

“Churches know more about poverty than any government will ever know, because we're dealing with the poor every day”- Rick Warren (“Matching Quotes”). Farmers in the Middle Ages never had life easy, but Feudalism gave the serfs everything they needed, even if they returned the favor in strenuous work. Feudalism is a system used in the Middle Ages to place each social class into a specific job they will keep the rest of their life. Serfs were the lowest class of the Feudal System and they gave everyone crops, taxes, and meat, which allowed the population to survive. Feudalism, although now seen as not ideal, was an evidentially bright plan in the Middle Ages, giving everyone in every class protection from invasion, …show more content…

Serfs had multiple promises made in order to keep the flow of feudalism running smoothly. The laborers worked on the King’s land and gave him food in return for their property (Macdonald 17). The workers were required to give a payment to be able to live on the king’s land. Just about everything Serfs did, they had to pay a tax to do (“Social Classes, Life, and Plague”). The workers were required to pay a certain fee to the lord be able to do their daily job- provide for the lord. They worked for the lord and could only move if they had permission from them (Shuter 18). They were tied to land and couldn’t leave unless they were granted permission to. They were bound to their farm and had no legal way to move otherwise. Serfs had to pay a fine if they didn’t work or pay rent (Macdonald 31). They had strict rules that said that if they don’t give enough food or money, the have to pay an even bigger amount, a fine. Knights were given fiefs, or pieces of land in return for fighting for the lands. The Knights promised loyalty and protection to the lord and serfs (Nardo 6). They fought for them against multiple fighters that tried to attack them. They also gave loyalty to the king and had to protect his land. They are given a fief which is a term for a gift/pay (Nardo 6). Knights were given a fief to fight, which was a land grant as a gift. To get land you had to pay homage, or show promise. (Macdonald 31). You had to be a loyal citizen to the king if you wanted to get land. There were no rebels allowed. Feudalism had multiple rules and laws that needed to be followed, or else the system would not

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