NCERT Summary: The Early Societies (Theme 6: The Three Orders) | NCERT Video Summary: Class 6 to Class 12 (English) - UPSC PDF Download

Three Orders

• Western European society was divided into three orders between the ninth and the sixteenth centuries.
• The three orders of the western society include:
  • The Clergy
  • The Nobility and
  • The Peasantry
• Clergy enjoyed special status. They were exempted from paying taxes.
• The nobility also enjoyed a respectable position in the society. People belonging to the nobility were appointed on higher posts in administration, army and the church. They were also exempted from paying certain taxes.
• The peasantry had to pay heavy taxes and had to work very hard to meet their both ends.
• The most important characteristics of the middle age Western European society was the emergence of feudalism.
• Two sections of the third order were:
  • Free Peasants
  • Serfs
• Free peasants had to deposit a fixed land revenue to the lords.
• Most of the Western European society belonged to the serfs. A lot of restrictions were imposed on them while the peasants were free from such restrictions.
• Serfs were denied to offer prayers in the church. They were ill-treated and forced to work nearly 12 to 16 hours a day.
• Feudalism is a German word. It stands for land or an estate. It was regarded as the main the pillar of the Medieval European society.
• Under feudalism, lords were granted their land in exchange for military services and personal loyalty.
• Feudalism originated in France. Later on it spread over to many other countries of Europe like England, Germany, Italy, Spain, Austria, etc.
• The church played a major role in influencing the Medieval European society.
• Pope was the supreme authority in the church’s institution.
• Some of the famous towns that came into prominence were Venice, Florence, Paris, London, Frankfurt, Milan, Amsterdam, etc.
• The word ‘monastery’ is derived from the Greek word ‘monos’ that means someone who lives alone.
• The drawbacks of the barter system were solved by the use of money.
• St. Benedict Monastery was established in 529 CE in Italy. St. Benedict laid the foundation of this monastery.
• Decline of feudalism in the 16 century paved the way for the rise of nation-state in Europe. French, German and Russian Revolutions occurred in 1789, 1848 and 1917 CE respectively. These revolutions inspired the people of the world also and gave a new way to the world.

Important terms

• Tithe: A kind of tax collected by the church from the peasants in France. It was l/10th of the total produce.
• Manor: Dwelling area of the landlord.
• Fief: The land given by the lord to the knight.
• Pope: The supreme authority of the church.
• Friars: A group of monks who moved from place to place, preaching to the people and living on charity.

Timeline: Early History of France

Eleventh to Fourteenth Centuries

The New Monarchies

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