C Curriculum Explorer
History·Medieval Times·conceptual

Medieval Pyramid of Power

How medieval society was organised: king at the top, then lords, then knights, then peasants/serfs; who owed what to whom; the pyramid of power and mutual obligations

Suggested ages 7–9

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Evidence of understanding

  • Draw or describe the feudal pyramid showing king, lords, knights, and peasants
  • Explain what each level owed to the level above (loyalty, military service, labour)
  • Describe what a serf's life was like and why they couldn't easily leave

Assessment prompt

Could Medieval Pyramid of Power explain the medieval class system — who was at the top, who was at the bottom, and what each group had to do for the others?

Standards alignment

No external standards are linked to this topic.