A Quest to Discover How the Feudal System Worked

It didn't take long for the Navigators to discover that the feudal system of the Middle Ages was not fair! 

There were four main levels of the system. 

The top level: the royalty

The king ruled over all.

The next level down was the nobility and the church officials.

They pledged loyalty to the king

and were responsible for telling all what to do.

At times the two didn't agree, hence the English word feud.

The next level down were the knights. 

They provided protection for all. 

It took a long time and lots of training 

(and armor!) to become a knight.

At the bottom layer were the peasants and serfs (those who were basically slaves). 

They provided food and services for all. 

The Navigators then played a simulation game using M&M's.

Each person received 10 M&M's.

It all sounded fair and good ... until they discovered what family they were born into.

The first pyramid scheme! The peasants/serfs paid taxes and rent to knights, who in turn gave much of what they received to the nobles and church officials. They, in turn, gave much of what they received to the king.

THE KING ENDED UP WITH THE MOST BY FAR!!

The nobles and church officials each had a lot, too!

The knights had quite a lot.

And the peasants and serfs only had a few, 

enough to barely stay alive.

SO UNFAIR. 

Even with masks on we can show with our body language how we feel.

SO UNFAIR!

Here is how one student, after reading more about the feudal system, summed it up.