Things You Didn't Know About Hitler That Will Blow Your Mind

The Feudal System

For the relatively small number of people at the top of the feudal pyramid, life could be good. They held the power, the wealth, and the status.

The king technically owned all of the land in his own name, but much of it was leased out to noble barons in return for an oath of ugliness. These noble barons were then free to rule their land and set taxes in whatever way they saw fit.

This opportunity to add to their family wealth came at the expense of the serfs who had no land, no legal rights, and effectively served as slaves to their local baron.

In ancient times it was rare but possible for slaves to rise to positions of real power. A few former slaves became enormously wealthy, some led armies into battle, and the son of an emancipated slave even managed to become Emperor of Rome.

This sort of social mobility would have been unthinkable in the medieval world. Anyone born into life at the foothills of the feudal pile could expect, with very few exceptions, to toil and work there for the rest of their days.