Medieval Pyramid of Power · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

The Medieval Pyramid of Power

History · Medieval Times · ages 7-9
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. Which group is at the very bottom of the pyramid?

    • Lords
    • Peasants and serfs
    • Knights

  2. Who sits at the very top of the medieval pyramid of power?

    • The king
    • A knight
    • A peasant

  3. In the pyramid of power, lords stood above knights.

    Circle one:   True   False

  4. What did peasants and serfs mostly give to the lord above them?

    • Work on the land
    • Soldiers for battle
    • Stone castles

  5. A lord gave a knight land to live on. What did the knight promise in return?

    • To pay only in gold coins
    • Nothing at all
    • To fight for his lord

  6. Lords gave their knights land. What did the lords owe to the king above them?

    • Nothing at all
    • Loyalty and agreed military service
    • Only money

  7. Tom says: 'Peasants owed nothing to anyone, but the king owed loyalty to the knights.' What is wrong with Tom's idea?

    • Peasants owed labour, while knights owed service to their lords
    • Nothing is wrong, Tom is right
    • The king was not part of the pyramid

  8. A serf named Agnes works the lord's fields several days a week. Why couldn't she just pack up and move to another village?

    • She could leave any time she wanted
    • She owned the land herself
    • She was tied to the lord's land
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Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

The Medieval Pyramid of Power W1-mt_bjlY5TE1y--s1

  1. Peasants and serfs · Peasants and serfs were at the bottom of the pyramid, holding it up.
  2. The king · The king occupies the top level in this simplified model.
  3. True · The order from top to bottom was king, lords, knights, then peasants.
  4. Work on the land · Peasants and serfs paid the lord with their labour, working his fields.
  5. To fight for his lord · Knights owed military service to the lord who gave them land.
  6. Loyalty and agreed military service · Lords owed the king loyalty and military service under the terms of their landholding.
  7. Peasants owed labour, while knights owed service to their lords · Peasants owed labour to their lords. Knights owed military service. Lords also owed protection and support to those who depended on them.
  8. She was tied to the lord's land · Serfs were bound to the lord's land and could not leave without his permission.
Worksheet · LightMySky