Which social class primarily consisted of landowners and nobles during the Middle Ages?

The social class that primarily consisted of landowners and nobles during the Middle Ages is the nobility. This class was characterized by their ownership of large estates and significant power over the land and the people living on it. Nobles were often granted land by the monarch in exchange for military service and loyalty, establishing a hierarchical structure in which they played crucial roles in governance and warfare.

The nobility enjoyed privileges such as tax exemptions and the right to bear arms, which further elevated their status in medieval society. They often held titles like Duke, Count, or Baron, and their responsibilities included managing their lands, administering justice, and serving in the court of the king.

In contrast, the peasantry primarily consisted of serfs and farmers who worked the land owned by the nobility and were subject to their authority. The clergy constituted a separate group with religious responsibilities and influence, while the merchant class was focused on trade and commerce, often lacking the landownership and inherent privileges associated with the nobility. This distinction between these classes elucidates why the nobility was the correct answer here, as they were distinctly recognized as landowners wielding significant societal power during the Middle Ages.