CHAPTER : 6 The Three Orders NCERT SOLUTION CLASS 11TH HISTORY | EDUGROWN NOTES

Short Answer Type Question:

Q1.Describe the life of Christian monks in a monastery during the medieval period of Europe.
ANSWER:
The men who led the life of self-denial and self-control were called monks. The monks lived in monastery and led the simple life. They had to take a vow not to acquire any kind of worldly possession. They were not allowed to marry and had to take a vow to obey the chief of monastery. Their only mission in life was to pray and preach and to spread moral teachings among the common people.

Q2.What do you understand by manor? Describe in brief.
ANSWER:
The noble enjoyed a special status in the society. He had a complete control over his property. He was the lord of all the people settled on his land. He occupied vast tracts of land which had its own dwellings, private fields, and pastures. His house was called manor. Peasants cultivated his private lands. Whenever required in battle they were also expected to act as foot soldiers.

Q3.Discuss the categories of cultivators under feudalism during the medieval age in Europe.
ANSWER:
There were two categories of cultivators in the feudal system, during the age in Europe. They were free peasants and serfs.

1. Free Peasants: They held their farms as tenants of the lord. This category of peasants did not work for their lords.
2. Serfs: Serfs were the lowest category of peasants. They were just like slaves of their masters. They had not only to work on the fields of their lords and gave them a part of their produce but also to perform such petty jobs as building or repairing their houses, roads, etc. They received no wages. They were not allowed to leave the state without the permission of their lord.

Q4.What was the position of Pope in the medieval Europe?
ANSWER:
The Pope enjoyed a respectable position in the society during the medieval period in Europe. He was considered to be the spiritual representative of Jesus Christ. He interfered into the internal affairs of the Christian kings and their subjects. Nobody could dare to challenge the authority of Pope.

Q5.What is the political importance of the feudal system?
ANSWER:
Political importance of the feudal system:

• Nobles provided protection to their people.
• They also maintained peace and harmony in their regions.
• The feeling of mutual understanding and co-operation among the people was also created.
• Through manorial system, the feudal lords provided economic provision.

Q6.Describe the merits and demerits of feudal system.
ANSWER:
Merits of the feudal system:

• Common people were provided security of life and property.
• Law and order was maintained in their territories.

Demerits of the feudal system:

• There were mutual conflicts among feudal lords to expand their own states. That is why peace and order in the society got disturbed.
• The feudal system proved to be an obstacle in the growth of political unity.

Q7.How did plague affect trade and cities?
ANSWER:

• With the expansion of trade in the 13th and 14th centuries, ships carrying goods from distant countries had started arriving in European ports. Rats came along with ships carrying away the infection of bubonic plague. After the outbreak of plague, cities became the hardest hit. In enclosed communities like monasteries, when one individual contracted the plague none survived.
• The plague took its worst toll among infants, the young and the elderly.
• As the horrible impact of plague the population of Europe, 73 millions in 1300, stood reduced to 45 millions in 1400.
• Depopulation caused a shortage of labour. Imbalance was created between agriculturalists and manufacturers.

Q8.Why did rich people donate their money to churches?
ANSWER:
The rich people donated their money to churches. The large churches were known as cathedrals. They were being built in France and belonged to monasteries. Different groups of people gave their immense contribution by their labour, materials and money for their construction. It took many years in its completion. After its completion, they became centers of pilgrimage.

Long Answer Type Question:

Q1.Discuss the following:
(i) Serf
(ii) Monk
(iii) Cathedrals
ANSWER:

• Serf: Serf occupied a distinct place in medieval Europe. They did a lot for the development of agriculture. They cultivated plots of land which belonged to the lord. A large portion of its product had to be given to the lord. They were not allowed to leave the estate without the prior permission of their lords. The lord could only decide about the marriage of their serfs.
• Monk: A group of deeply religious people chose to lead the life of isolation. They lived in religious communities called abbeys or monasteries. Monks took vows to remain in the monasteries for the rest of their lives. They spent most of their time in prayer, meditations and studies. Men or women could also lead such sort of life. Men became monks and women became nuns. There were separate monasteries for men and women. Monks and nuns did not marry.
• Cathedrals: Large churches were called cathedrals. They were built in France. Different groups of people contributed a lot to their monasteries, particularly the rich merchants. Cathedrals were built of stone. They were designed in such a way so that the priest’s voice could be heard within the hall v/here a large number of people gathered. Stained glass windows narrated the stories in the Bible through pictures. Illiterate people could also read it.

Q2.Why do you think the people of new towns were considered of fourth order? Explain.
ANSWER:
The people of new towns were considered of fourth order because of the following:

• These newly flourished towns were developed with the fair and small market centers, as a result of expansion of trade.
• The social and the political conditions of the people were totally different from the people who belonged to the former three orders.
• There were banks and lawyers in these towns. There was a distinct economic organisation in the form of guild. Each trade and craft industry was organised into a guild.
• Craftsmen found it easier to settle in the towns as goods could be produced and traded for food.
• The rich traders and merchants developed better than the nobility. They were generous to the people and engaged in trade related activities.
• Later on cathedral towns began to develop, which belonged to monastery and rich merchants.

Q3.Which causes were responsible for the rise of middle class?
ANSWER:
The causes responsible for the rise of the middle class were :

• In the crusade, a lot of feudal lords had been killed.
• The growth of commerce and trade made the trading class quite rich and prosperous. They, in turn, sought the favor of king and helped him, whenever needed.
• The wealthy merchants and rich traders got many towns and cities freed from the clutches of feudal control.
• The new cities soon grew into centers of trade, commerce and education and consequently gave rise to the new classes.
• New classes of the rich merchants patronized art, science, literature and education.

Q4.How did technological changes affect agriculture during 11th century?
ANSWER:
Technological changes affected agriculture in many ways:

• Wooden ploughs were replaced with heavy iron-tipped ploughs.
• The method of harnessing animals to the plough improved which enabled animals to exert greater power. Horses were now better shod with iron horseshoes. It prevented foot decay.
• The increased use of wind and water energy for agriculture enhanced agricultural production.
• The most innovative change was the switch from a two-field to a three field system. Now, peasants could use a field two years out of three if they planted it with one crop in autumn and a different crop in spring a year and a half later.
• Now the farmers could plant one with wheat or rye, the second in spring to raise peas, beans and lentils and the other
• part was left fallow.

As a result, there was an immediate increase in the amount of food produced from each unit of land. Food production almost doubled. There were better opportunities for cultivators. They could now produce more food for less land. The average size of peasants’ farm shrank from about 100 acres to 20 to 30 acres. As a result of holding, smaller lands could be more efficiently cultivated. It also reduced the amount of labour. The new technological changes cost a lot of money.

Q5.Discuss the achievements of the nation-states.
ANSWER:
The nation-states are known for achievements. Some of them were:

• The rise of nation-states crushed the power of the lords and this made people free from their excesses.
• They paved way for setting up peace.
• They taught the people to give support to their kings.
• They infused the spirit of nationalism among the people of different classes.
• They took remarkable steps for the consolidation of the economy of states.
• They contributed a lot in the development of language, literature and architecture.

Q6.What were the causes that led to the decline of feudalism in Europe?
ANSWER:
From the eighth to twelfth century CE, feudalism prospered in Europe. There was a steep decline of feudalism in Europe. The following causes led to its downfall:

• Rise of the powerful monarchies: Powerful monarchies paved the way for the decline of feudalism. It rose in France, Spain and England.
• Rise of nationalism: Education spread in the nation. The spread of education aroused the spirit of nationalism among the educated middle class. But the feudal lords were quite opposed to nationalism. That was why the educated people turned against feudalism. They could not tolerate its existence. They were to the side of their ruler and not with the lords. The result was that rulers became more and more powerful.
• Rise of the middle class: New inventions encouraged trade and industry. The result was the emergence of the middle class in towns and cities. The middle class desired peace for the promotion of commerce, industry and crafts. They wanted to get rid of the nobles who were always engaged in constant wars.