The Four Alls
In Medieval days, the world was divided into four parts called the Four Alls. These roles were said to be "chosen by God." They were: "the peasants who worked for all, priests who prayed for all, knights who fought for all, and kings who ruled all."
"the peasants who work for all"
The peasants were the lowest class of people and were made up of freemen and serfs. They worked their lives away, and because they did, the nobles lived royally. Although they worked very hard, they had some pleasures in life. There were festivals, merrymaking, and many holidays to celebrate.
"the knights who fight for all"
When a noble boy was about seven years old, he was sent away to train to become a page. As a page, he learned manners and social skills from the ladies, ran errands, and learned to read and write. Then, at about age 13, the boy became a squire. He spent time riding, caring for the horses, studying the arts of falconry and hunting, and handling weapons. Once the boy became an armiger, he could go into battle with the knight that trained him. Now he was a noble, but he did not become a knight until about age 21.
"the priests who pray for all"
The church played a big part in medieval life. The Pope headed the church and was in charge of everything. The church influenced many life decisions. If the church believed it, so would you. If you did not agree with the church or did not attend mass, you would be banned from it and guaranteed to go to Hell.
"the kings who ruled all:
The nobility made up 10 percent of the medieval population. The Kings and Queens lived in castles and the Lords and Vassals worked under them. The Lords controlled the fief and protected the Vassal, while the Vassal controlled the manor and protected the peasant workers on it. The royalty lived much better lives than the peasants did. They protected everyone under them.
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