The Middle Ages
The Middle Ages, or Medieval Times, in Europe was a long period of history from the year 476 (the fall of the Roman Empire) to 1500 approximately.
In this Timeline you can see the main graphic events that took place in every age in History and also when Middle Ages were set.
This was a time of castles and peasants, guilds and monasteries, cathedrals and crusades. Great leaders such as Juana de Arco and Carlomagno were part of the Middle Ages as well as events such as the Black Plague and the rise of Islam.
Castle of Loarre (Huesca/Spain)
Monastery of Huelgas (Burgos/Spain) Life in the country. The Manors (Castles)
In the Middle Ages most people lived on a manor in the country. A manor was a village with a castle, a church and some land around it. The king gave land to his most important noblemen and bishops. In return, they promised to give the king soldiers for his armies.
The Peasants
The lowest people of society were the peasants. They didn't have their own land, but they got land from the lords . The lords also gave them protection.
Peasants worked on the land and produced the goods that the lord needed. But they did not have a very nice life. They had to pay a lot of taxes and give the lord much of their harvests.
Poor people didn't get very much to eat. They had to eat dark bread
because white bread was only for the king and his family. Only rich
people had meat to eat.
Peasants lived in rustic country huts; the family animals, such as a cow, may also live
inside the home. The home was usually dark, smoky from the fire, and
uncomfortable.
The Knights
The knights were nobles who also fought in battles and tournaments. There were three types of soldiers during the Middle Ages: foot
soldiers, archers, and knights. The knights were armored
soldiers who rode on horses. Only the wealthiest nobles could afford
to be a knight. They needed very expensive armor, weapons, and a
powerful war horse.
The Nobles
Lords, ladies and were called nobles. Knights were also nobles. They had a much higher status
in medieval society than that of the peasants. The peasants served the
nobles and were controlled by them.
A Lord had complete authority over his lands and the people who lived on his lands.
A Lady had very few rights. She was expected to marry whoever her father chose and could be married
at an age as young as twelve years old. Her responsibilities were to
care for the household, and raise children.
A Knight served his lord during times of battle, which was frequent. He
enjoyed more freedoms and rights than peasants, but his life was always dangerous.
The castles were beautiful from the outside, but they were damp, smelly,
and cold on the inside. They were built to protect the lords and
ladies, not to be comfortable.
The power of the Church
Catholic Church got so much power in the Middle Ages. The Pope had even more power than the very same Kings. Local bishops also got a lot of power, influence and, above all, wealth. Because the leaders of the Church were almost always nobles, they received lands and wealth from the king, and also peasants who served them. Other nobles often paid them tributes in hopes of obtaining the grace of God...
As the Middles
Ages went on, Priests, Bishops and Church in general obtained such a high
power in society that they even decided on political decisions of their kingdoms.
Life in the cities
City life was very different from country life, but it wasn't much
easier. The cities were crowded and dirty. A lot of people worked as
craftsmen and were members of a guild. Young boys would serve as
apprentices for seven years learning a craft. Other jobs in the city
included servants, merchants, bakers, doctors, and lawyers.
City homes were very crowded and usually everyone slept in the same
room. They were usually dirty, unhealthy and provided a narrow (very small) space for their occupants.
Did children go to school?
Very few people attended school in the Middle Ages. Schools didn't exist as we know them today.
Very few people attended school in the Middle Ages. Schools didn't exist as we know them today.
Most peasants' children
learned their job and how to survive from their parents.
Some children
learned a craft through their parents' lessons.
Only rich, princes or noble children often learned through personal teachers in individual or small-group classes. They would go to live in the
castle of another lord where they would work for the lord, learning
about how a large manor was run.
There were some schools run by the church. Here students would learn to read and write Latin. The first universities also began during the Middle Ages.
There were some schools run by the church. Here students would learn to read and write Latin. The first universities also began during the Middle Ages.
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