In England, feudalism is topped off with a monarch. In the “feudal pyramid” the king sits at the top of society and the levels of society under the king are nobles, knights, and serfs/peasants (Ganshof). These levels within society bring about social inequality. Favored by the king, nobles were given land to control and were expected to help support the kingdom in economics and militaristic issues. Though land was given by the king to nobles or whoever else is granted land. The king is the only one who truly owns land, he only lets others hold them. Knights served under the king and under the nobles as warriors and a militaristic force to reign. Knights are respected members of the kingdom because in their society, protecting the kingdom and defeating their enemies grants much praise. Serfs and peasants are the lowest tier of the social ladder. In England’s monarch, the king and his family is worshipped. The king’s heirs take power after the king can no longer serve his kingdom and the power remains within the lineage. The relationship between the king, the kingdom, and its people are key in the monarch’s power and thus is the society and culture of the region. Serfs and peasants may be the lowest tier however they will still work their hardest for the kingdom and their king.
Ganshof, Francois Louis. Qu’est-ce que la féodalité. London: n.p., 1944. Print.
Social Hierarchy around the world 