Middle Ages Regents Practice Exam 2026 - Free Regents Practice Questions and Study Guide

The social class with the least power during the Middle Ages was the serfs. Serfs were peasants who were tied to the land they worked on and were considered part of the manor system. They had very limited rights and were subject to the authority of the landowner, often working long hours in exchange for basic protection and the right to tend to small plots of land for their own subsistence. Unlike the nobility, who held political power and land, or the clergy, who held spiritual authority and influence, serfs were largely viewed as property. Their lack of social mobility and political influence placed them at the bottom of the social hierarchy, creating a stark contrast with the more privileged classes such as the nobility and clergy. Knights, while also part of the feudal system and somewhat dependent on the nobility, still held military power and status, which further differentiates their position from that of serfs.