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~ Voices of Adversity ~ ([ Social Positions and Hierarchy of Ranks ]…

- - - - [Knights]
      - Knights were a middle-class social position in the feudal system of the Middle Ages; they were expected to be courteous and honourable, and many knights were trained to protect the king’s townspeople from raids and crusades. If a knight were especially brave or courageous in a battle, a baron may gift a small residence upon their land to the knight in exchange for their service in the fight. Knights owned the manor that they were gifted, though still were bound to allegiance of the baron. Knights would employ serfs, who would farm upon the land for the knight, and be provided with shelter and small plots of land.
      - Knights lived stable lives, and their access to a decent luxury would mean a fulfilling life.
  - - - [Kings]
  - - - All who were born into the position of a serf were trapped in poverty and custody without any systemic rights. They were unknown; unimportant to those around them. They lived dark lives.
      - The nature of serfs/villeins (serfdom) was a farmer bound to the will of his landlord by birth. Many, if not all serfs were provided only with small portions of land for them to grow their own sustenance, and miniscule shelter in the manor of their landlord. This was the trait that differentiates serfs from slaves. A lowly slave could be bought off and sold without any exchange for their service; serfs were given land to grow and produce their own food and clothes. Not a significant improvement, but it was key in describing the hardships of those less fortunate. Unfortunately, a large amount of the serfs production cycled back to the landlord. As the serf was the lords property, the lord could order the serf to farm land that was not claimed by any other tenant. The serf would only be able to use his lords grain mills; no other’s.
      - [Villeins and Serfs]
  - - - [Barons]
      - The baron was a high rank in the heirachy of social positions in the Middle Ages. If a king was unable to provide for the large amount of land he owned, he would gift a small portion of it (a feif) to a disciple of his (a baron) who would oversee the land and possibly establish manors that he would gift to especially honourable knights in exchange for their alleigance and protection. Barons would earn money from grain and crops farmed upon the land by the knights own serfs, and pay the king a wage in order to possess the manor.
- - - - Most townspeople had jobs that involved trading or marketing. This was probably the least-demanding occupation because the goods are being created by others, and the merchant was there to transport it. It was also an essential job to keep trade and resources flowing through the realms, especially in a Zero-Sum world.
        Most other occupations consisted of tinkering and construction. Most utilities had to be made manually, so there was great demand for a workforce capable of stable production.
        
        The merchants had to pay lords certain tolls (fines) if they were to sell goods to the townspeople of the village. This was so that the villages could make easy money, and also to avoid illegal smuggling and deals. This usually caused inflation in prices of shipped resources, and trading became difficult. In times of war and conflict, trading was almost impossible between realms.
        
        The specialized groups of merchants and artisans were called guilds. Guilds existed to make sure that a certain business was supplying only the necessary amount of resources needed to keep the circulation through the village, otherwise townspeople seeking a job which was already keeping up with demand would not be allowed to pursue that occupation.
        Being a member of a guild allowed you to make money whilst only working on a particular trade. You were given the same amount of money for the same quality work, and you had the freedom to develop your interest in the business further.
      - Religion and the Church }
        
        Monks and nuns had sworn service to the church, so they organized and supported many events in the church. They lived in monasteries and convents, and were also used to complete strenuous manual work that was essential to the town, such as copying books.
        
        Priests had the responsibility of educating and reinforcing religion and supplying services to those in need. They organized funerals and had the deceased buried in the churchyard, and they also organized marriage and relations. The church was a trusted establishment that most townspeople participated in.
        
        The townspeople lived more stable lives than serfs due to the fact that they were not owned by any other position. They were free to make a living with the opportunities that were available. Serf’s however, cannot escape their work and are bound to the will of their master.