Daily Life in Middle Ages

Daily Life in Middle Ages

Life in the Country

The bulk of individuals who lived in the Middle Ages were farmers who worked in the countryside. A local ruler would often reside in a sizable home known as a manor or castle. The lord’s workers on the land were the local peasants. The term “villeins” used to refer to the peasants was similar to that of a servant.

Every year, the peasants put forth a lot of work. They raised crops like oats, wheat, and barley. In their gardens, they cultivated fruits and vegetables as well. They occasionally kept a few animals as well, such as cows for milk and hens for eggs.

Life in the City

Although it wasn’t any easier, city life was quite different from country life. The cities were filthy and packed. Many of the populace belonged to guilds and worked as artisans. Young boys would learn a craft for seven years as apprentices. In the city, there were other positions for lawyers, doctors, bakers, merchants, and slaves.

What were their homes like?

The majority of people in the Middle Ages lived in modest one- or two-room houses, despite the fact that most images of the period include huge castles. These houses were packed, with most people sleeping in one room. In rural areas, family pets like cows could even reside inside the house. Usually, the house was stuffy, smokey from the fire, and gloomy.

What did they wear?

To be warm in the cold, the majority of peasants dressed simply in bulky wool. On the other hand, the rich donned far more elegant clothing composed of silk, velvet, and fine wool. Men often dressed in a cloak, breeches, woolen socks, and a tunic. Women wore a cloak, woolen stockings, an apron, and a long skirt known as a kirtle.

The so-called “sumptuary” regulations were created with the intention of dividing the nobility from the peasants. These regulations specified what materials and garments were acceptable for whom to use.

What did they eat?

The food available to peasants in the Middle Ages was not very varied. Their main meals were stew and bread. Beans, dried peas, cabbage, and other vegetables would be included in the stew, perhaps seasoned with a little piece of meat or bones. Generally speaking, special occasions were reserved for other items like meat, cheese, and eggs. They would consume their meat raw because they lacked a means of keeping it cool. To preserve leftover meat, it was salted or smoked. A greater range of foods, including as meats and sweet puddings, were consumed by the nobility.

Did they go to school?

It was rare for people in the Middle Ages to go to school. The majority of peasants picked up survival skills and their work from their parents. Through the guild system and apprenticeship, some kids were able to acquire a craft. Rich kids frequently received tutoring. They would move to reside in another lord’s castle and work for him, getting knowledge about the management of a sizable manor.

The church operated a few schools. Students would pick up reading and writing Latin here. The Middle Ages saw the founding of the first universities as well. A broad range of courses, including as reading, writing, logic, math, music, astronomy, and public speaking, are studied by university students.

Facts about Daily Life in the Middle Ages

• The bread eaten by people of the Middle Ages was gritty from the millstones used to grind the grain. This caused the people’s teeth to wear down quickly.
• Peasants were not allowed to hunt on the lord’s land. Punishment for killing a deer was sometimes death.
• Medicine was very primitive at the time. Sometimes doctors would “bleed” people by putting leeches on their skin.
• People mostly drank ale or wine. The water was bad and would make them sick.
• Marriages were often arranged, especially for nobles. Noble girls often married at 12 years old and boys at 14.

Read also: The Monastery in Middle Ages