Europe is a continent with several countries at that time too.
The most northern part of Europe had developed democracy at that time and it has been running non stop on Iceland and I guess Iles of Man since then.
2007-10-23 14:44:17
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answer #1
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answered by Realname: Robert Siikiniemi 4
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In much of Europe there was a feudal system at that time, but not as layered and strict as it would become in later years.
Feudal = King own the land, he gives it to nobility to protect it, work on it and earn income in exchange for military and political support and tax money.
There can be several layers of nobility who get the land from someone higher up and hand it out lower down.
The lowest layer are the serfs and the free farmers.
Serfs belong to the land and so to the lord, free farmers work for the lord but do not belong to the lord.
In the 10th century both did excist, but I do not know in which percentages.
Cities were small and mostly un-important, but coming up.
Most people would not travel farther than the fields of the village, nearest town or estate at most.
So work for most people would consist of working the farm or the lands of the lord, each in his or her own position.
Men would work the fields and woods, women work the fields and spin, weave, cook and clean.
Not much difference between free people and serfs in that, both rather fixed to the lands and doing the same kind of job.
Men would often become part of the small army each lord would have, to be send to the higher lord or the king when asked for.
At times of war the lord would protect the local folks in his 'castle' at that time the castles were often farmsteads with a strong wall round the house or a simple keep.
But Europe was big, some countries slaves were common, as well as serfs, some countries most people were free and did own a fair bit of land.
In some countries cities were well developed, in some areas they did not excist at all.
And in all countries there were big differences between one area and the next, between how one lord ruled his lands and how the next lord did.
But as people hardly traveled, and those who did did not write about ordinary people, we have not a lot of facts about life then.
2007-10-24 11:13:41
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answer #2
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answered by Willeke 7
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