Medieval Life and Society

Geoff Dougherty

Background

The Middle Ages were a historical period lasting fromthe 5th century to the 15th. This era began when the lastRoman emperor finally fell, and Western Europe beganto divide into small, individual city states. Manyhistorical events took place during the Middle Ages,including the Crusades, large-scale European migration,and massive urbanization.

Religion

The Roman Catholic Church mainly dictated society inthe Middle Ages. Almost every citizen attended churchand shared the common goal of living a good, virtuouslife and gaining access to heaven. Monasteries andconvents were extremely important and powerful.Christianity in the form of the Catholic Church wasbasically the only religion practiced in Western Europeduring the Middle Ages.

Education• Conducted by the Church • Charlemagne commanded every cathedral and monastery to

establish a school to provide free education for intelligent young men

• Main courses – Grammar – Rhetoric– Logic– Latin– Astronomy– Philosophy– Mathematics

Education

• Education of women was ignored• Classes carved notes into wax covered tablets with

animal bones • At age 14 or 15, some scholars continued their

education at universities• Cap and gowns worn today have roots in medieval

academic garments• Wars and invasions halted studies

Clothing

• Clothing styles varied depending on the social standing of the person– Peasants dressed very plain and simple– Nobility dressed in fitted clothing with an emphasis on

sleeves– Barbarian nomads wore long trousers and shirts made of

fur, wool, and leather– Knights wore sleeveless surcoats with a coat of arms

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COTxnTQuJd8

Clothing• Styles changed with time, similar to

today• Men wore undershirts and briefs

covered by a sleeveless jacket and a tunic

• At the end of the 13th century, men’s loose and flowing tunics became tighter fitting

• Women wore “kirtles” – Tunics worn to their ankles, often

over top of a shirt

Bathing and Hygiene

• Depending on social standing, some citizens bathed only once a month

• High classes bathed in wooden tubs with water heated by the fire in the great hall

• Tubs were often placed outside in good weather

• In the mid-1200’s many towns had public bathhouses

Music

• Very popular during times of celebration and festivities

• Weddings and birthdays featured uplifting music• Weddings also featured lovers’ music to evoke a

romantic atmosphere– Known as “chivaree”

• On Mayday, dancers would perform to high-pitched music to awaken the spirits and forewarn them spring had arrived

Music

• Popular instruments included recorders, trumpets, horns, whistles, bells, and drums

• Some higher class people also listened to the sound of traditional music during and between meal courses– Believed to help the digestion

of food

Village Life

• Villages consisted mainly of farmers• Houses, barns, sheds, and animal pens

surrounded the town square, and they were surrounded by plowed fields and pastures

• Most inhabitants of villages were born, raised, married, had children, and died all in their village

• Every village had a lord, even though not every lord lived in their village

Village Life

• After the 1100’s, castles often dominated village landscape

• Medieval peasants in villages were either classified as free men or “villeins”– Villeins were those who owed heavy labor service

to a lord, were bound to the land, and subject to feudal dues

• Life was harsh, as most work was done outside

City Life

• Large cities were scarce in the beginning of the Middle Ages, but began to appear by the 13th century

• Viking invasions were a major contributor to the creation of cities

• Citizens began to build walls to protect themselves from invasions, creating many European cities that still stand today – Walled cities became known as “bourgs”, which

eventually became boroughs

Food• High classes ate many types of fowl and other

delicate meats– Capons – Geese– Larks– Chicken– Beef– Bacon– Lamb

• Peasants ate mainly bread and soup, and occasionally meat on special occasions

Food• Medieval diets lacked many vitamins and

were low on calories, which made the constant drinking of ale a necessity for most

• Low in fat, high in fiber

Commerce

• Construction of stone roads, buildings, churches, and marketplaces led to urbanization in cities

• Merchants began trading with other cities • Treaties were formed to protect the

transportation of goods between cities• Medieval towns held markets at least once a

week in the town square where local merchants would set up stations for trading and purchase

Commerce

• Fairs would be held once or twice a year to attract foreign merchants who brought fine silks, carpets, and other items not available locally

• Medieval business world became dominated by Guilds

• Most began careers in a certain trade through apprenticeship

Festivals

• Festivals revolved around feast days with pagan origins

• Based on ancient agricultural celebrations that marked when certain crops should be planted or harvested

• Held the grandest feat during the dreariest two week stretch of the year – Christmas Eve to January 6

Festivals

• “Plow Monday” took place the day after Epiphany, and free men of the village participated in a plow race to begin cultivation

• Easter and Christmas were a day of exchanging gifts– Castle lord received eggs from villagers– Lord would provide servants with dinner

Sources

http://www.medieval-life.net/life_main.htm