Feudalism shaped the social structure of the Middle Ages. Under the feudal system, there was a strict social hierarchy. Clothing was a way to display which social class a person represented. Nobles, including lords and ladies, often were dressed in rich colored clothing, sometimes even with golden thread. Dying clothes was expensive at the time; therefore, only the wealthy could afford to have clothing made with vibrant clothes. Peasants wore undyed clothes in browns and grays mostly for two reasons. They were inexpensive, and because they worked the land, dirt was less predominant and they were easier to clean.
Nationalism and imperialism encouraged each European nation to pursue its own interests and compete for power. ... The alliance system pulled one nation after another into the conflict.
