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The Hierarchical Levels Of The End Of Feudalism

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The End of Feudalism
Feudalism is a social hierarchy that labels citizens within a society for the purpose of social, economic, and political importance. The customs of feudalism were upheld legally beginning in medieval Europe and continuing through the late eighteenth century. The end of feudalism began in the times of the crusades, but the beginning of the end of feudalism was when Henry VIII broke from the Catholic church taking the church out of the feudalism equation. Although feudalism was a dominant social system of that time, certain economic, social, political, and technological developments weakened the system along with the Crusades and the Napoleonic code.
The hierarchical levels within feudalism were made up of people of different social classes. The highest level consisted of only the King. Next, was the Nobility class who were the largest land owners and had more privileges then those under them (644). Under the Nobility, were the Knights. The Knights served the sovereign as soldiers. Both the Nobles and the Knights lived in country homes. Next in the level of hierarchy were the Merchants. They participated in trade and lived in town. The lowest level of in the feudalism hierarchy were the peasants, also known as the servants. Only those who were of a higher social class had the opportunity to own land. This created an unequal distribution of land within society which challenged feudalism.

Feudalism created a vast difference in wealth between the rich

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