Homage in this feudal context refers to which arrangement?

• A. Peasants who would work on their lord's land in exchange to live on it.
• B. Knights who pledged loyalty to the king in exchange for land.
• C. Landlords paying taxes to the crown.
• D. Clergy pledging to support the king.

Answer: (A)

The main idea is the feudal bond of homage—a vassal’s formal oath of loyalty to a lord in return for a grant of land (a fief). This arrangement creates a personal, reciprocal relationship: the vassal promises military and other services, and the lord grants land and protection. The option describing knights pledging loyalty to a lord in exchange for land best captures this dynamic, since it centers on allegiance and the land-for-service exchange that defines feudal tenure. The other scenarios describe serf-like tenancy, purely fiscal payments, or general church–state support, none of which embody the personal oath tying land to loyal service.