How was the Medieval concept of power and equality different from our contemporary concept?

The Medieval concept of power and equality was radical different from our contemporary concept. There were three main classes in Europe. they were monks and priests, knights and nobility, and peasants. The peasant was at the bottom. He was owned by his lord and could be bought and sold. He had to do what his lord wanted him to do. They were not at all equal to the nobility. They had very little possessions of there own and were treated as property (http://library.thinkquest.org/10949/fief/medpeasant.html).

According to primary sources from the Middle Ages, the peasants were fined heavily for marriage. The source says "the payment of merchet was exacted from serfs at marriage. When the serf married a woman from another estate the indemnity was called formariage, but if he neglected to pay, he suffered confiscation of his goods. Serfs under the jurisdiction of unscrupulous bailiffs suffered heavily by these fees"
(http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/600Merchet.html). In modern times were believe that all people are equal and should be treated the same. In the middle ages this was not the case.

Sources:

The Peasant Life. Web. 14 Apr. 2010. http://library.thinkquest.org/10949/fief/medpeasant.html.

Pope Gregory the Great: Payment of Merchet, C. 600. Web. 14 Apr. 2010. http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/600Merchet.html.

Picture Source:

Peasants Breaking Bread.jpg. Web. 14 Apr. 2010. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Peasants_breaking_bread.jpg.