NCERT Solutions Class 11th History Chapter – 6 The Three Orders Notes

NCERT Solutions Class 11th History Chapter – 6 The Three Orders 

NCERT Solutions Class 11th History Chapter – 6 The Three Orders 

?Chapter – 6?

✍The Three Orders✍

? Notes ?

• 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.

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