nobles under system known as feudalism. The nobles pledged their military assistance and

their loyalty to the rulers in return for land and protection.

The land a noble received was called a manor. Each manor was a self-sufficient

estate, which included a manor house, pastures, fields, and a village. Most of those who

lived in the manor were serfs, men and women bound to the land by their labor. Serfs were

required to work their lord's land in exchange for a share of the crops they grew and for

protection from attack by outsiders.

Feudal society operated under a rigid class system. At top of society was the noble

class. Noblemen spent their days managing their estates, hunting, or engaging in battle.

Men held most of the power, although some women obtained positions of influence by

inheriting land from male relatives. Most noblewomen married in their early teens and

generally had large families. They spent thei

perform the household tasks as well. Although the lords received the serfs, many also

were less likely to attempt to take by force what they could get by trade. Soon trading

in small one-room cottages. Their diet consisted mainly of soup, bread, and ale, with some

cooking, cleaning, spinning, weaving, brewing, and caring for livestock.

Life for serfs was more difficult than it was for nobles. Most spent their days in

played a leading role in guiding the politics of Europe. It often stepped into settle disputes

towns and cities replaced manors as the focus of economic activity. As a result, many serfs

On a wider scale, the Roman Catholic church was the only institution in Europe

Some common words found in the essay are:
, Roman Catholic, Greeks Romans, Roman Empire, Asia Unlike, Holy Land, Various Muslims, Southwest Asia, roman catholic, catholic church, spent days, roman catholic church, feudal society, vikings invaders, serfs required, serfs lived, holy land,
Approximate Word count = 682
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)