The First Order: The Clergy Class 11 – Concept, MCQs & Notes PDF

Topic covered: The First Order: The Clergy 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 “The First Order: The Clergy“ 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.

The First Order: The Clergy

1. Power and Autonomy of the Catholic Church:

• The Catholic Church had its own laws.
• It owned lands granted by rulers.
• It could levy taxes.
• The Church was a powerful institution and did not depend on the king.

2. Head of the Western Church:

• The Pope was the head of the western Church.
• He lived in Rome.

3. The First Order: Clergy:

• Christians in Europe were guided by bishops and clerics.
• Bishops and clerics together formed the first ‘order’ of society.

4. Village Churches and Religious Life:

• Most villages had their own church.
• People assembled every Sunday.
• They listened to the sermon by the priest.
• They prayed together.

5. Restrictions on Becoming a Priest:

• Everyone could not become a priest.
• Serfs were banned from priesthood.
• The physically challenged were not allowed.
• Women could not become priests.
• Priests were not allowed to marry.

6. Status of Bishops:

• Bishops were considered the religious nobility.
• Like lords, bishops used vast landed estates.
• They lived in grand palaces.

7. Church Income: Tithe:

• The Church was entitled to one-tenth of peasants’ produce.
• This share was called a tithe.

8. Church Income: Endowments:

• The Church received endowments from the rich.
• These were made for:
  • The welfare of donors
  • The welfare of deceased relatives in the afterlife

9. Feudal Influence on Church Ceremonies:

• Some Church ceremonies copied formal customs of the feudal elite.
• Kneeling with clasped hands and bowed head during prayer resembled a knight taking vows to his lord.
• The use of the term ‘lord’ for God reflected feudal culture.

10. Shared Culture of Feudal Society:

• The religious and lay worlds of feudalism shared:
  • Customs
  • Symbols

Next & Previous Topics of NCERT/CBSE History Class 11 Chapter 4: The Three Orders

MCQs on NCERT History Class 11 Chapter 4 Topic – The First Order: The Clergy Class 11

Here are the top exam-oriented MCQ-type questions on “The First Order: The Clergy Class 11” that you should prepare for your CBSE or state board exams:

Question 1. Which institution had its own laws, owned land, and could levy taxes?

a) The monarchy
b) The nobility
c) The Catholic Church
d) The peasantry

Answer: c) The Catholic Church

Question 2. Why was the Catholic Church considered a very powerful institution?

a) It controlled trade
b) It did not depend on the king
c) It controlled armies
d) It ruled villages directly

Answer: b) It did not depend on the king

Question 3. Who was the head of the western Church?

a) Archbishop
b) Bishop
c) Pope
d) Cleric

Answer: c) Pope

Question 4. Where did the Pope live?

a) Paris
b) Constantinople
c) Rome
d) Jerusalem

Answer: c) Rome

Question 5. Who guided Christians in Europe?

a) Kings and nobles
b) Bishops and clerics
c) Knights and lords
d) Monks only

Answer: b) Bishops and clerics

Question 6. Bishops and clerics together constituted which ‘order’?

a) Second order
b) Third order
c) First order
d) Fourth order

Answer: c) First order

Question 7. Most villages had their own:

a) Castle
b) Manor
c) Church
d) Court

Answer: c) Church

Question 8. On which day did villagers assemble in the church?

a) Friday
b) Saturday
c) Sunday
d) Monday

Answer: c) Sunday

Question 9. People assembled in church mainly to:

a) Pay taxes
b) Hear the sermon and pray
c) Meet officials
d) Discuss trade

Answer: b) Hear the sermon and pray

Question 10. Who were banned from becoming priests?

a) Nobles
b) Merchants
c) Serfs
d) Landowners

Answer: c) Serfs

Question 11. Which group was not allowed to become priests?

a) Traders
b) Physically challenged people
c) Knights
d) Farmers

Answer: b) Physically challenged people

Question 12. Women could not become:

a) Bishops
b) Nuns
c) Priests
d) Clerics’ assistants

Answer: c) Priests

Question 13. Men who became priests were not allowed to:

a) Own land
b) Collect tithe
c) Marry
d) Pray publicly

Answer: c) Marry

Question 14. Bishops were regarded as:

a) Military leaders
b) Religious nobility
c) Royal officials
d) Peasant representatives

Answer: b) Religious nobility

Question 15. Like lords, bishops owned:

a) Weapons
b) Ships
c) Vast landed estates
d) Workshops

Answer: c) Vast landed estates

Question 16. Bishops lived in:

a) Monasteries
b) Small houses
c) Grand palaces
d) Villages

Answer: c) Grand palaces

Question 17. What was the Church’s one-tenth share of peasant produce called?

a) Rent
b) Tax
c) Tithe
d) Levy

Answer: c) Tithe

Question 18. The tithe was taken from:

a) Traders
b) Kings
c) Peasants
d) Nobles

Answer: c) Peasants

Question 19. Apart from tithe, the Church received money through:

a) Trade profits
b) Endowments by the rich
c) War booty
d) Royal salaries

Answer: b) Endowments by the rich

Question 20. Rich people gave endowments mainly for:

a) Political support
b) Buying land
c) Welfare in the afterlife
d) Building castles

Answer: c) Welfare in the afterlife

Question 21. Many Church ceremonies copied customs of the:

a) Peasantry
b) Merchants
c) Feudal elite
d) Artisans

Answer: c) Feudal elite

Question 22. Kneeling with clasped hands during prayer resembled the way a knight:

a) Fought in battle
b) Took vows of loyalty
c) Paid taxes
d) Greeted peasants

Answer: b) Took vows of loyalty

Question 23. The use of the term ‘lord’ for God shows the influence of:

a) Roman culture
b) Tribal customs
c) Feudal culture
d) Greek philosophy

Answer: c) Feudal culture

Question 24. The religious and lay worlds of feudalism shared:

a) Laws only
b) Economic systems
c) Customs and symbols
d) Military structure

Answer: c) Customs and symbols

Question 25. Which of the following best describes the position of the Church in feudal society?

a) Economically weak
b) Politically dependent on kings
c) Powerful and independent
d) Limited to religious functions

Answer: c) Powerful and independent