1. What was the basic unit of the feudal system?
A. The castle
B. The manor
C. The kingdom
D. The city
Answer: B. The manor
Explanation: The manor was the basic economic and administrative unit of the feudal system, consisting of a lord’s estate and the surrounding land.
2. Who were serfs in the feudal system?
A. Warriors of the king
B. Landowners
C. Peasants bound to the land
D. Members of the clergy
Answer: C. Peasants bound to the land
Explanation: Serfs were agricultural laborers tied to the land and under the control of a lord, unable to leave without permission.
3. Which of the following best describes feudalism?
A. A centralized government system
B. A decentralized political system based on land ownership
C. A trade-based economy
D. A system ruled by merchant guilds
Answer: B. A decentralized political system based on land ownership
Explanation: Feudalism was characterized by decentralized governance, where land was exchanged for service and loyalty.
4. What was the role of a vassal?
A. To protect the king
B. To serve a lord in exchange for land
C. To oversee trade
D. To provide religious services
Answer: B. To serve a lord in exchange for land
Explanation: Vassals pledged loyalty and military service to a lord in return for land, known as a fief.
5. What was the fief in the feudal system?
A. A tax collected by the king
B. A piece of land granted to a vassal
C. A peasant revolt
D. A type of feudal tax
Answer: B. A piece of land granted to a vassal
Explanation: A fief was a parcel of land given by a lord to a vassal in exchange for loyalty and service.
6. Which class of people were at the top of the feudal hierarchy?
A. Nobles
B. Monarchs
C. Serfs
D. Knights
Answer: B. Monarchs
Explanation: Monarchs were at the top of the feudal system, granting land to nobles and lords in exchange for their loyalty and support.
7. What was the main responsibility of a knight?
A. Managing trade routes
B. Defending the lord’s land
C. Preaching religion
D. Collecting taxes
Answer: B. Defending the lord’s land
Explanation: Knights were mounted warriors who pledged to defend the lands of their lords in exchange for fiefs.
8. What was the Code of Chivalry?
A. A set of rules for knights to follow
B. A guide to agricultural practices
C. Laws for the serfs
D. A tax regulation system
Answer: A. A set of rules for knights to follow
Explanation: The Code of Chivalry was a moral and ethical guideline for knights, emphasizing bravery, loyalty, and respect for women.
9. What led to the rise of feudalism in Europe?
A. The fall of the Roman Empire
B. The rise of powerful monarchies
C. The industrial revolution
D. Increased urbanization
Answer: A. The fall of the Roman Empire
Explanation: After the Roman Empire collapsed, decentralized governance became necessary, giving rise to feudalism.
10. What was a liege lord?
A. A merchant guild leader
B. The principal lord to whom a vassal owed loyalty
C. The ruler of a town
D. The highest-ranking clergy member
Answer: B. The principal lord to whom a vassal owed loyalty
Explanation: A liege lord was the vassal’s primary lord, to whom the vassal owed their utmost allegiance.
11. What was the role of the clergy in the feudal system?
A. Military service
B. Administering land grants
C. Providing spiritual guidance
D. Organizing trade routes
Answer: C. Providing spiritual guidance
Explanation: The clergy offered religious services and acted as intermediaries between the people and God, often holding significant land.
12. What was the feudal contract?
A. A written agreement between merchants
B. A verbal or ceremonial agreement between a lord and vassal
C. A trade document
D. A royal decree
Answer: B. A verbal or ceremonial agreement between a lord and vassal
Explanation: The feudal contract was a mutual agreement of loyalty and service in exchange for land or protection.
13. What was the purpose of castles during feudal times?
A. Centers for trade
B. Homes for peasants
C. Fortified homes for protection and control
D. Religious sites
Answer: C. Fortified homes for protection and control
Explanation: Castles served as defensive strongholds for lords and a symbol of their power.
14. How were disputes typically resolved in the feudal system?
A. Through royal courts
B. By warfare or duels
C. Through elections
D. By merchant guilds
Answer: B. By warfare or duels
Explanation: Feudal disputes often escalated to armed conflicts or resolved through combat trials.
15. Who were the “free peasants” in the feudal system?
A. Nobles without titles
B. Serfs who earned freedom
C. Farmers not bound to the land
D. Vassals without lords
Answer: C. Farmers not bound to the land
Explanation: Free peasants owned their land and had more independence compared to serfs, who were tied to a lord’s estate.
16. What was the purpose of homage in feudal ceremonies?
A. To commemorate battles
B. To mark the vassal\u2019s loyalty to the lord
C. To celebrate harvest festivals
D. To honor the clergy
Answer: B. To mark the vassal\u2019s loyalty to the lord
Explanation: Homage was a public display of loyalty and submission performed by the vassal to their lord.
17. What was the main economic activity in the feudal system?
A. Trade and commerce
B. Agriculture and farming
C. Industrial production
D. Maritime exploration
Answer: B. Agriculture and farming
Explanation: The economy of feudal Europe was based on subsistence farming, with manorial estates providing resources.
18. How did feudalism contribute to the decentralization of power?
A. By consolidating trade centers
B. By granting significant power to local lords
C. By fostering urban development
D. By reducing the influence of monarchs
Answer: B. By granting significant power to local lords
Explanation: Feudalism fragmented authority, with lords exercising control over their domains rather than a central authority.
19. What role did feudalism play in medieval warfare?
A. It discouraged conflict
B. It organized armies through vassal obligations
C. It centralized military power
D. It banned knightly battles
Answer: B. It organized armies through vassal obligations
Explanation: Lords could summon vassals and knights to form armies, making feudalism integral to medieval warfare.
20. What marked the decline of feudalism in Europe?
A. The Black Death and the rise of towns
B. The Crusades
C. The fall of Constantinople
D. The Renaissance
Answer: A. The Black Death and the rise of towns
Explanation: The plague reduced populations, weakening feudal obligations, while towns and commerce fostered centralized governance.
