Explain how feudal monarchs were able to exert power control over peasants

Question

A. their agreement allowed peasants to avoid working on Catholic church lands
B. their agreement allowed peasants to fish and hunt on the manor
C. peasants received tithes in return for working the lords' land
D. Peasants needed protection and land, which the Lords provided

Answer 1

Feudal monarchs were able to exert power and control over peasants primarily through the relationship established by the feudal system, which was based on mutual obligations and protection. The correct answer to the question is:

D. Peasants needed protection and land, which the Lords provided.

In the feudal system, peasants, often referred to as serfs, were tied to the land owned by a lord or a monarch. In exchange for being granted the use of land to cultivate for their own livelihood, peasants were obligated to provide labor and a portion of their produce to the lord. The lords, in turn, offered protection from invaders and ensured some level of order and governance within their domain. This reciprocal relationship was critical in a time when the absence of centralized power made safety and stability paramount concerns for the peasantry.

While the other options may have relevance in specific contexts, they do not capture the essence of the power dynamics in the feudal system as effectively as option D does.