Feudal System
At the bottom of the feudalism pyramid sits peasants. A peasant, or serf, is a worker with very little pay. Peasants are the common people who, usually, are farmers that work hard to make a small living. Part of that of which they earn is given to knights leaving lowly peasants with even less money. Knights make up the second level of the feudalism pyramid. Knights are soldiers who fight to protect the kingdom and its people. If peasants pay the knights a sum of money, the knights will provide protection to whoever paid them. Knights serve and protect vassals in exchange for land. Religious leaders made up the next level in the feudalism pyramid. Religious leaders controlled the church and the church was very influential and powerful at the time. Many people were turning to the church for help and the king even had alliances with the church in order to have a more positive reputation. Religious leaders had a strong hand in government and therefore they were a powerful level in the feudalism pyramid. At the top reigns the king. The king is in control of everything and everyone serves him. He controls the knights and peasants and has an influence on the church making him the most powerful of any other feudalism level.