Who often owned land and settled the poor during the feudal system?

The correct answer is landlords, as they played a crucial role in the feudal system by owning large areas of land and managing the surrounding agricultural activities. In this hierarchical structure, landlords or nobles typically controlled vast estates and provided land to peasants or serfs in exchange for labor, services, or a portion of the produce. This system was fundamental to the socio-economic dynamics of feudal societies, as it established a relationship of dependency between those who owned the land and those who worked it.

Merchants, while significant in trade and commerce, did not generally own land in a feudal context but instead focused on buying and selling goods. Farmers, although they worked the land, often did so as tenants under landlords rather than as landowners themselves. Artisans were skilled workers who focused more on crafting goods and were not typically involved in land ownership or the agricultural aspect of feudalism. Thus, landlords are identified as the key figures who owned land and settled the poor within this system.