NCERT Pointer History Class-11 Chapter-6

NCERT History Summary Class-11 Chapter-6: The 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:

• 481– Clovis becomes king of the Franks.
• 486– Clovis and the Franks begin the conquest of northern Gaul.
• 496– Clovis and the Franks convert to Christianity.
• 714– Charles Martel becomes Mayor of the palace.
• 751– Martel’s son Pepin deposes the Frankish ruler, becomes king and establishes a dynasty. Wars of conquest double the size of his kingdom.
• 768– Pepin succeeded by his son Charlemagne \ Charles the Great.
• 800– Pope Leo III crowns Charlemagne as Holy Roman Emperor.
• 840 on wards- Raids by Vikings from Norway.

Eleventh to Fourteenth Centuries:

• 1066– Normans defeat Anglo-Saxons and conquer England
• 1100 on wards– Cathedrals being built in France
• 1315-17– Great famine in Europe
• 1347-50– Black Death
• 1338-1461– Hundred Years War between England and France
• 1381– Peasants’ revolts

The New Monarchies:

• 1461-1559– New monarchs in France
• 1474-1556– New monarchs in Spain
• 1485-1547– New monarchs in England