Question

Consider the following two statements A and B about the idea of 'Three Orders' formulated in France in early 11^th century and choose the correct answer:

A. The society was divided into three classes namely, those who prayed, those who fought and those who tilled the land.

B. The division of society into three orders was supported by the church to consolidate its dominant role in society.

1. Both A and B are true.
2. A is false and B is true.
3. Both A and B are false.
4. A is true and B is false.

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 1 : Both A and B are true.

The idea of the “Three Orders” was first formulated in France in the early eleventh century.

• It divided society into three classes: those who prayed, those who fought, and those who tilled the land.
• This division of society into “Three Orders” was supported by the Church to consolidate its dominant role in society.
• This helped the emergence of a new warrior group called knights.

Thus, we can say that both statements A and B are true.

• The Church patronised this group and used them to propagate their idea of “Peace of God”.
• The attempt was to direct warriors away from conflict amongst themselves and send them instead on a campaign against the Muslims who had captured the city of Jerusalem. This led to a series of campaigns called the Crusades.
• These campaigns in the service of God and the Church completely altered the status of knights.
• Originally, these knights did not belong to the class of nobles.
• But by the end of the eleventh century in France, and a century later in Germany, the humble origins of these warriors were forgotten.
• By the twelfth century, nobles also wanted to be known as knights