In the early Middle Ages, people lived by a social system known as _____(feudalism; scholasticism; the catholic church) . Within this system, people received protection from invaders in exchange for their loyalty and obedience. At the top of the system was the ____ (king; pope; archbishop) who gave land to nobles in exchange for knights to fight in his wars. The ______ (serfs; knights; Jews; crusaders) were at the bottom. They paid taxes in exchange for protection.