Ivanhoe is set during the period of European and English history usually known as the Medieval Period, or the Middle Ages. This was a time marked by strong religious (Christian) fervor in Europe, a fervor that was often combined with military ideals. Scott, like other authors, heavily romanticizes this historical period in his novel, placing special emphasis on the code of honor known as chivalry. Chivalry, associated especially with European knighthood, stressed bravery, truth, honor, and religious piety, and a good knight was expected to adhere to these values. Chivalry became a foundational ideology of the feudal system that defined the Medieval Period. In European feudalism, each nobleman divided his land into smaller portions known as fiefs and disbursed these allotments among several lesser nobles. These lesser nobles, in turn, became vassals of the nobleman who owned the fiefs, paying rents and pledging to fight for him in return for his protection. The lowest and most populous class was made up of serfs who were bound to the land and had to work for and pay rents to the nobles. There were also some enslaved people, usually prisoners taken captive in war. A small middle class known as franklins or freeholders owned small amounts of land independently.