In medieval society, most people used to live in villages, and most of the population were peasants. Villeins were peasants who used to be legally tied to land owned by a local lord. If they wanted to move or get married, they needed permission first. They used to live on small strips of land spread across the village. If crops failed, people faced starvation.

Some peasants were called freemen. They were able to move from one village to another and did not have the same restrictions. The local lord’s house used to be very large, usually a castle, and the rest of the people lived around it.

Peasant homes used to be small, often just one room with a thatch roof and no windows. Inside, animals used to sleep in the hut with the family. Furniture used to be just a couple of stools and a trunk for bedding. They used to sleep on the floor with some hay to make it softer.

There used to be a clear hierarchy called the feudal system. The king was at the top, followed by lords, clergy, knights, and finally, peasants. A small number of people used to have control over everyone else.