The Second Order: The Nobility Class 11 – Concept, MCQs & Notes PDF

Topic covered: The Second Order: The Nobility 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 Second Order: The Nobility“ 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 Second Order: The Nobility

1. Position of Priests and Nobles:

• Priests placed themselves in the First Order.
• Nobles placed themselves in the Second Order.

2. Central Role of the Nobility:

• Nobility played a central role in social processes.
• Their importance came from control over land.

3. Vassalage as the Basis of Land Control:

• Control over land was based on vassalage.
• Kings of France were linked to people through vassalage.
• This system was similar to practices among Germanic peoples, including the Franks.

4. Hierarchy under Vassalage:

• Nobles were vassals of the king.
• Peasants were vassals of the landowners.
• A noble accepted the king as his seigneur (senior).

5. Mutual Obligations:

• Seigneur promised protection.
• Vassal promised loyalty.
• The relationship involved mutual promises.

6. Rituals and Symbols of Vassalage:

• Vassalage involved elaborate rituals.
• Vows were taken on the Bible in a church.
• Vassal received symbols of land:
• Written charter
• A staff
• A clod of earth

7. Meaning of ‘Lord’:

• The word lord came from a term meaning one who provided bread.

8. Privileges of the Noble:

• Noble had a privileged status.
• He had absolute control over his property.
• Property rights were held in perpetuity.

9. Military and Judicial Powers:

• Noble could raise troops called feudal levies.
• He held his own courts of justice.
• He could coin his own money.

10. Extent of the Noble’s Land:

• Noble was lord of all people settled on his land.
• Owned vast tracts of land, including:
• His dwelling
• Private fields and pastures
• Homes and fields of tenant-peasants

11. Manor System:

• The noble’s house was called a manor.
• His private lands were cultivated by peasants.

12. Duties of Peasants:

• Peasants worked on the lord’s lands.
• They cultivated their own farms.
• They served as foot soldiers in battle when required

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

MCQs on NCERT History Class 11 Chapter 4 Topic – The Second Order: The Nobility Class 11

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

Question 1. In the three orders of society, priests placed themselves in the:

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

Answer: c) First order

Question 2. Nobles were placed in which order of medieval society?

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

Answer: b) Second

Question 3. The nobility played a central role in social processes mainly because they:

a) Controlled trade
b) Controlled religion
c) Controlled land
d) Controlled education

Answer: c) Controlled land

Question 4. Control over land by nobles was the result of a practice known as:

a) Feudal levy
b) Manor system
c) Vassalage
d) Tithe

Answer: c) Vassalage

Question 5. ‘Vassalage’ refers to a relationship based on:

a) Trade agreements
b) Military conquest
c) Mutual promises and loyalty
d) Religious authority

Answer: c) Mutual promises and loyalty

Question 6. The kings of France were linked to people through:

a) Feudal levies
b) Vassalage
c) Manor system
d) Church laws

Answer: b) Vassalage

Question 7. The practice of vassalage among French kings was similar to that of:

a) Romans
b) Greeks
c) Germanic peoples
d) Egyptians

Answer: c) Germanic peoples

Question 8. The Franks belonged to which group?

a) Roman
b) Germanic
c) Celtic
d) Slavic

Answer: b) Germanic

Question 9. Big landowners (nobles) were vassals of the:

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

Answer: c) King

Question 10. Peasants were vassals of the:

a) King
b) Church
c) Nobles
d) Knights

Answer: c) Nobles

Question 11. A nobleman accepted the king as his:

a) Bishop
b) Seigneur
c) Peasant
d) Tenant

Answer: b) Seigneur

Question 12. The term ‘seigneur’ means:

a) Farmer
b) Judge
c) Senior or lord
d) Soldier

Answer: c) Senior or lord

Question 13. The word ‘lord’ was derived from a term meaning:

a) One who owned land
b) One who ruled
c) One who provided bread
d) One who fought wars

Answer: c) One who provided bread

Question 14. In the vassalage relationship, the lord promised to:

a) Collect taxes
b) Protect the vassal
c) Educate peasants
d) Expand trade

Answer: b) Protect the vassal

Question 15. The vassal, in return, promised:

a) Wealth
b) Military leadership
c) Loyalty
d) Land

Answer: c) Loyalty

Question 16. The vassalage relationship involved:

a) Informal agreements
b) Written laws only
c) Rituals and vows
d) Economic contracts

Answer: c) Rituals and vows

Question 17. Vows in vassalage were taken on the:

a) Crown
b) Sword
c) Bible
d) Charter

Answer: c) Bible

Question 18. The ceremony of vassalage usually took place in a:

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

Answer: d) Church

Question 19. At the vassalage ceremony, the vassal could receive which of the following as a symbol of land?

a) Crown
b) Sword
c) Written charter or clod of earth
d) Coins

Answer: c) Written charter or clod of earth

Question 20. The noble enjoyed a status that was:

a) Temporary
b) Equal to peasants
c) Privileged
d) Limited

Answer: c) Privileged

Question 21. A noble had absolute control over his property:

a) For a fixed period
b) Under church supervision
c) In perpetuity
d) Only during wars

Answer: c) In perpetuity

Question 22. Troops raised by nobles were called:

a) Standing army
b) Imperial guards
c) Feudal levies
d) Mercenaries

Answer: c) Feudal levies

Question 23. The noble could hold his own:

a) Markets
b) Courts of justice
c) Churches
d) Schools

Answer: b) Courts of justice

Question 24. Which power shows the political authority of nobles?

a) Cultivating land
b) Coining their own money
c) Paying taxes
d) Teaching peasants

Answer: b) Coining their own money

Question 25. The residence of a lord was known as a:

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

Answer: c) Manor

Question 26. The manor included:

a) Only the lord’s house
b) Only peasants’ huts
c) Fields, pastures, and peasants’ homes
d) Only private lands

Answer: c) Fields, pastures, and peasants’ homes

Question 27. The lord’s private lands were cultivated by:

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

Answer: c) Peasants

Question 28. Apart from farming, peasants were also expected to:

a) Teach
b) Trade
c) Act as footsoldiers
d) Collect taxes

Answer: c) Act as footsoldiers

Question 29. Peasants worked on the lord’s land in addition to:

a) Military training
b) Court duties
c) Working on their own farms
d) Religious service

Answer: c) Working on their own farms