Social Unrest Class 11 – Concept, MCQs & Notes PDF
Topic covered: Social Unrest class 11 notes and MCQs questions: The Three Orders (All single detail notes are exam-oriented).
We have discussed in-depth and exam-oriented pointers that can be asked in the board exam of class 11th about “Social Unrest“ from the NCERT history notes for class 11th chapter 4 “The Three Orders”.
Download the NCERT History for Class 11th Chapter 4 The Three Orders Notes PDF
Download the NCERT History for Class 11th Chapter 4 The Three Orders Notes PDF for a detailed and easy-to-understand explanation of medieval European society. These notes begin with an introduction to feudalism and explain how the feudal system developed in France and England. You will clearly understand the three orders of society, focusing on the second order, the nobility, their privileges, duties, and life on the manorial estate, including the role of knights in feudal warfare.
The chapter also explains the first order, the clergy, covering monks, the Church, and its deep influence on social life, education, and moral values. Equal attention is given to the third order, peasants, both free and unfree, with specific references to England and their everyday struggles. In addition, the notes discuss factors affecting social and economic relations, the emergence of a possible fourth order with new towns, townspeople, and cathedral towns, and the major crisis of the fourteenth century, marked by social unrest and political changes. These NCERT-based notes are ideal for concept clarity, revision, and exam preparation.
Social Unrest
1. Decline in the Income of Lords:
- Income of lords was badly affected
- Decline occurred because:
- Agricultural prices fell
- Wages of labourers increased
2. Attempts to Restore Feudal Labour System:
- Lords tried to abandon money contracts
- They attempted to revive labour-services
- These efforts were driven by economic desperation
3. Peasant Resistance to Lords:
- Peasants strongly opposed the revival of labour-services
- Opposition was led especially by:
- Better-educated peasants
- More prosperous peasants
4. Major Peasant Revolts:
- 1323: Peasant revolt in Flanders
- 1358: Peasant revolt in France
- 1381: Peasant revolt in England
5. Nature and Outcome of Revolts:
- All rebellions were ruthlessly crushed
- Despite suppression, revolts were historically significant
6. Regions of Intense Revolt:
- Revolts were most violent in areas that had earlier experienced:
- Economic prosperity
- Benefits of economic expansion
7. Purpose of Peasant Uprisings:
- Peasants aimed to protect gains made in earlier centuries
- Revolts reflected resistance to loss of economic improvements
8. Impact on Feudal System:
- Severe repression could not restore old feudal relations
- Intensity of peasant opposition prevented reimposition of feudalism
9. Irreversibility of Money Economy:
- The money economy was too advanced to be reversed
- Labour-based feudal privileges could not be reinvented
10. Final Outcome:
- Lords crushed the revolts militarily
- Peasants succeeded in ensuring:
- Feudal privileges of earlier days were not restored
Next & Previous Topics of NCERT/CBSE History Class 11 Chapter 4: The Three Orders
MCQs on NCERT History Class 11 Chapter 4 Topic – Social Unrest Class 11
Here are the top exam-oriented MCQ-type questions on “Social Unrest Class 11” that you should prepare for your CBSE or state board exams:
Question 1. The income of lords declined mainly because:
A. Land was confiscated
B. Agricultural prices fell and wages rose
C. Trade collapsed completely
D. Taxes were abolished
Answer: B
Question 2. The fall in agricultural prices affected the lords by:
A. Increasing surplus
B. Improving productivity
C. Reducing their income
D. Strengthening feudal ties
Answer: C
Question 3. Wages of labourers increased due to:
A. Overpopulation
B. Labour shortage
C. Technological stagnation
D. State laws
Answer: B
Question 4. In response to falling income, lords tried to:
A. Reduce rents
B. Sell land
C. Revive labour-services
D. Encourage trade
Answer: C
Question 5. The money-contracts lords attempted to abandon were related to:
A. Military service
B. Cash rents
C. Religious donations
D. Trade guilds
Answer: B
Question 6. The attempt to revive labour-services was opposed mainly by:
A. Clergy
B. Merchants
C. Peasants
D. Nobles
Answer: C
Question 7. Which group of peasants led the opposition most strongly?
A. Poor and landless peasants
B. Nomadic peasants
C. Better-educated and prosperous peasants
D. Serfs only
Answer: C
Question 8. Peasants revolted in Flanders in:
A. 1300
B. 1323
C. 1358
D. 1381
Answer: B
Question 9. The peasant revolt in France took place in:
A. 1323
B. 1347
C. 1358
D. 1381
Answer: C
Question 10. The English peasant revolt occurred in:
A. 1323
B. 1358
C. 1370
D. 1381
Answer: D
Question 11. Arrange the revolts in correct chronological order:
A. England → France → Flanders
B. France → England → Flanders
C. Flanders → France → England
D. England → Flanders → France
Answer: C
Question 12. The peasant rebellions were generally:
A. Peaceful protests
B. Successful revolutions
C. Ruthlessly crushed
D. Supported by kings
Answer: C
Question 13. The revolts were most intense in regions that had earlier experienced:
A. Severe poverty
B. Economic stagnation
C. Economic expansion
D. Religious conflict
Answer: C
Question 14. The intensity of revolts indicates that peasants were trying to:
A. End monarchy
B. Restore feudalism
C. Protect earlier economic gains
D. Support the Church
Answer: C
Question 15. Despite repression, old feudal relations could not be reimposed because:
A. Lords lost military power
B. Peasants migrated to towns
C. The money economy was too advanced
D. Kings opposed feudalism
Answer: C
Question 16. The crushing of revolts shows that lords:
A. Fully regained feudal control
B. Failed completely
C. Won militarily but lost socially
D. Became economically stronger
Answer: C
Question 17. The ultimate outcome of peasant resistance was that:
A. Feudal privileges were restored
B. Feudal privileges could not be reinvented
C. Peasants gained political power
D. Serfdom ended immediately
Answer: B
Question 18. This passage highlights the transition from:
A. Trade economy to barter
B. Money economy to labour economy
C. Feudal economy to money-based economy
D. Agricultural economy to industrial economy
Answer: C