The pyramid of power, ran to a strict ‘pecking’ order during the medieval period of the Middle-Ages, everyone knew their place.To understand why the Black Death played a major part in breaking down Feudalism,overview of how the different social classes worked, the King was in complete control under the Feudal System he owned all the land in the country, and decided who he would lease land to. However, before they were leased land, they had to swear an oath of loyalty, because after the king had rented the land, they would be in complete control of it. Because serfs made up the bulk of society, their class was hit the hardest. Because they catered to everyone (they provided for the knights, who provided for the Barons, who provided for the King), Barons were now willing to pay higher wages and offer extra benefits. All their life they had lived off the serfs’ hard work, and were willing to pay them to stay on the manor to continue slaving for them. When the serfs died, the foundation on which feudalism relied upon was broken. The pyramid of power broke, and everything was thrown into chaos.