Despite the hold of powerful religions such as Christianity and Islam, the economic life of . people was governed by feudal relations.
In the prevailing anarchy and violence, the mighty living in strong castles seized whatever they could and the poor peasants and labourers suffered. The latter were not organized to defend their interests. There was no strong central government either to protect them. Out of this chaos and disorder evolved the feudal system.
The king, supposed to represent God on earth, was at the head of the feudal regime. Immediately after him were the great nobles, known as dukes, counts, earls. The relationship was one of a vassal. The nobles in turn had vassals of their own, dividing and distributing their fief to lesser nobles called viscounts or barons. Last in this order were the knights, whose fiefs could not be divided.
At the bottom were the villeins or serfs. In the feudal system which centered around vassalage, there was no idea of equality or freedom. There were only rights and obligations. The Bishops, Abbots and Cardinals and the Church came under this socio-political structure. The nobility and the clergy did not do any physical work. So the burden of producing the food and other necessities of life fell on the peasants and. Feudalism artisans.
