The Knights Class 11 – Concept, MCQs & Notes PDF

Topic covered: The Knights 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 Knights“ 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 Knights

1. Frequent Localised Wars in Europe:

• From the ninth century, Europe experienced frequent localised wars.
• Amateur peasant-soldiers were not sufficient for warfare.
• There was a strong need for efficient cavalry forces.

2. Emergence of Knights:

• The need for cavalry led to the growing importance of knights.
• Knights emerged as a new social and military group.

3. Position of Knights in the Feudal System:

• Knights were linked to lords, just as lords were linked to the king.
• This relationship formed part of the feudal hierarchy.

4. Grant of Land: The Fief:

• The lord granted the knight a piece of land called a fief.
• The lord also promised to protect the fief.
• The fief was hereditary and could be inherited.

5. Size and Components of a Fief:

• A fief extended between 1,000 and 2,000 acres or more.
• It included:
  • A house for the knight and his family
  • A church
  • Establishments for the knight’s dependants
  • A watermill
  • A wine-press

6. Cultivation of the Fief:

• Like a feudal manor, the land of the fief was cultivated by peasants.

7. Duties of a Knight:

• The knight paid his lord a regular fee.
• He promised to fight for his lord in war.

8. Military Training of Knights:

• Knights spent time every day fencing.
• They practised military tactics using dummies to maintain skills.

9. Loyalty of Knights:

• A knight could serve more than one lord.
• His foremost loyalty was to his own lord.

10. Minstrels and Knightly Culture:

• From the twelfth century in France, minstrels travelled from manor to manor.
• They sang songs about brave kings and knights.
• These stories were partly historical and partly invented.

11. Popularity of Minstrels:

• In a period when few people could read and manuscripts were scarce, minstrels were very popular.
• They acted as a major source of entertainment and storytelling.

12. Minstrels’ Gallery in Manors:

• Many manors had a narrow balcony above the large hall.
• This balcony was called the minstrels’ gallery.
• Minstrels sang from here while nobles feasted.

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

MCQs on NCERT History Class 11 Chapter 4 Topic – The Knights Class 11

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

Question 1. From which century did Europe witness frequent localised wars?

a) Seventh century
b) Eighth century
c) Ninth century
d) Eleventh century

Answer: c) Ninth century

Question 2. Why were amateur peasant-soldiers found insufficient?

a) They lacked weapons
b) They were unwilling to fight
c) Good cavalry was needed
d) They refused loyalty to kings

Answer: c) Good cavalry was needed

Question 3. The growing need for cavalry led to the rise in importance of:

a) Peasants
b) Merchants
c) Knights
d) Priests

Answer: c) Knights

Question 4. Knights were linked to lords in the same way as lords were linked to the:

a) Church
b) Peasants
c) King
d) Nobility

Answer: c) King

Question 5. The piece of land given by a lord to a knight was called:

a) Manor
b) Estate
c) Fief
d) Ulus

Answer: c) Fief

Question 6. Who granted the fief to the knight?

a) The king
b) The church
c) The lord
d) The peasants

Answer: c) The lord

Question 7. What did the lord promise in return for granting a fief?

a) Wealth
b) Protection of the land
c) Religious authority
d) Tax exemption

Answer: b) Protection of the land

Question 8. The fief granted to a knight was:

a) Temporary
b) Non-transferable
c) Inherited
d) Rented annually

Answer: c) Inherited

Question 9. The size of a fief generally extended between:

a) 100–500 acres
b) 500–1,000 acres
c) 1,000–2,000 acres or more
d) 3,000–5,000 acres

Answer: c) 1,000–2,000 acres or more

Question 10. Which of the following was included in a fief?

a) A factory
b) A house for the knight and his family
c) A university
d) A market town

Answer: b) A house for the knight and his family

Question 11. Apart from land, a fief also included:

a) Mines
b) A church
c) Ports
d) Royal courts

Answer: b) A church

Question 12. Which facility on the fief helped in grinding grain?

a) Bakery
b) Windmill
c) Watermill
d) Oil press

Answer: c) Watermill

Question 13. The wine-press on the fief was used for:

a) Storing wine
b) Making wine
c) Selling wine
d) Transporting wine

Answer: b) Making wine

Question 14. Who cultivated the land of the fief?

a) Knights
b) Lords
c) Peasants
d) Minstrels

Answer: c) Peasants

Question 15. In exchange for land, a knight promised to:

a) Pay taxes to the king
b) Fight for the lord
c) Serve the church
d) Train peasants

Answer: b) Fight for the lord

Question 16. A knight paid his lord a regular:

a) Tax
b) Gift
c) Fee
d) Rent

Answer: c) Fee

Question 17. To maintain their skills, knights practised:

a) Farming
b) Hunting
c) Fencing and tactics
d) Horse trading

Answer: c) Fencing and tactics

Question 18. Knights practised tactics using:

a) Live opponents
b) Wooden swords only
c) Dummies
d) Peasant soldiers

Answer: c) Dummies

Question 19. A knight could serve:

a) Only one lord
b) Only the king
c) More than one lord
d) Only the church

Answer: c) More than one lord

Question 20. The foremost loyalty of a knight was towards:

a) The king
b) The church
c) His own lord
d) Fellow knights

Answer: c) His own lord

Question 21. In France, minstrels became common from the:

a) Ninth century
b) Tenth century
c) Twelfth century
d) Fourteenth century

Answer: c) Twelfth century

Question 22. Minstrels travelled mainly from:

a) City to city
b) Church to church
c) Manor to manor
d) Kingdom to kingdom

Answer: c) Manor to manor

Question 23. Minstrels sang songs about:

a) Peasant life
b) Trade and commerce
c) Brave kings and knights
d) Religious teachings

Answer: c) Brave kings and knights

Question 24. The stories sung by minstrels were:

a) Completely fictional
b) Fully historical
c) Partly historical and partly invented
d) Religious texts

Answer: c) Partly historical and partly invented

Question 25. Minstrels were popular mainly because:

a) Printing was common
b) Manuscripts were many
c) Few people could read
d) They were supported by kings

Answer: c) Few people could read

Question 26. In many manors, the people gathered for meals in the:

a) Courtyard
b) Chapel
c) Large hall
d) Balcony

Answer: c) Large hall

Question 27. The narrow balcony above the large hall was called:

a) Knight’s stand
b) Minstrels’ gallery
c) Lord’s chamber
d) Watch tower

Answer: b) Minstrels’ gallery

Question 28. From the minstrels’ gallery, singers entertained:

a) Peasants
b) Soldiers
c) Nobles
d) Clergy

Answer: c) Nobles

Question 29. Minstrels performed while nobles were:

a) Sleeping
b) Fighting
c) Feasting
d) Praying

Answer: c) Feasting

Question 30. The relationship between lord and knight was based on:

a) Trade
b) Slavery
c) Land and military service
d) Religious duty

Answer: c) Land and military service

Question 31. The rise of knights shows the increasing importance of:

a) Infantry
b) Cavalry
c) Navy
d) Peasant armies

Answer: b) Cavalry

Question 32. The system of granting fiefs reflects:

a) Capitalism
b) Democracy
c) Feudalism
d) Socialism

Answer: c) Feudalism