Question

The social order in Europe around 1450 can be described as?

1) egalitarian
2) hierarchical and authoritarian
3) bureaucratic and regimented
4) based on clans

Answer 1

The social order in Europe around 1450 was hierarchical and authoritarian due to the feudal system, where power was held by a select few over the peasantry, with clan loyalty being replaced by rights and obligations.

Step-by-step explanation:

The social order in Europe around 1450 can best be described as hierarchical and authoritarian. This structure, known as feudalism, was characterized by a system where power and land ownership were concentrated in the hands of a select few, including kings, lords, priests, and vassals, who exercised authority over the peasantry. Over time, the remnants of Roman law were replaced by a complex web of feudal law and obligations, diminishing the significance of clan loyalty and instead reinforcing a rigid social hierarchy based on rights, privileges, and pledges of loyalty from different social categories.

Answer 2

The social order in Europe around 1450 was hierarchical and authoritarian, stemming from a feudal system that emphasized class-based hierarchy with kings, lords, and clergy holding authority over peasants.

Step-by-step explanation:

The social order in Europe around 1450 can best be described as hierarchical and authoritarian. This period in European history was characterized by feudal systems of governance and social structure.

The feudal system was a class-based hierarchy where power was concentrated in the hands of a small elite of hereditary landowners. Under this system, kings, lords, and clergy possessed significant authority over the vast majority of the population, particularly peasants also known as serfs.

Lords granted lands to warriors, or vassals, in exchange for military service and other obligations. Peasants, who worked the land, were often tied to it, providing labor in return for protection and the right to live on the land, a relationship steeped in loyalty and service rather than rights and freedom.