Grundherrschaft im Mittelalter: Das musst du wissen! – Geschichte | Duden Learnattack

In the Middle Ages, one's birth determined the population group they belonged to. This was closely related to the structure of the ruling class. Initially, there was a distinction between free and unfree individuals, with most people being free farmers who worked on the land. During times of war, these free farmers had to temporarily give up their lands to nobles or bishops, leading to the transition of landownership to the nobility and the unfree status of the farmers.

The feudal system allocated land to be cultivated by peasants during times of need and required them to provide labor services in exchange for a portion of their harvest. Peasants also had to oversee the lands of their lords, which added to their burden. The feudal system was characterized by personal relationships between vassals and their lords, where vassals pledged loyalty, including military service, to their lords in exchange for land and privileges.

The medieval social structure was hierarchical, with vassals being obliged to be faithful to their lords in times of war and administration. At the pinnacle of the hierarchy was the monarch, who granted land and titles to nobles. Vassals swore allegiance to their lords and were expected to follow them in times of conflict. The feudal system cascaded down to unfree individuals who sustained the socio-political order.