Daily Life in the Middle Ages
(1000-1600)
I.
Rural Areas
A. Nobility
B. Peasants/Serfs
II. Towns/Cities
A. Size
B. Industry
III. Population Drops
A. Why?
1. Food
2. Pestilence
•
•
•
•
•
Key Terms
Feudalism
Vassal/Knight
Fief
Guild System
Black Death
Traits of Feudalism
(Social/Economic System of Middle Ages)
• There was an absence of central authority &
“Warlords” dominated.
• People sought protection & unique
relationship developed between landowners
& commoners.
• Common in much of Europe—but NOT in
Pyrenees (French/Spanish border).
Medieval Hierarchy
• Monk (clergy)
• Knight
(noble)
• Peasant
Nobles
(up to 5%)
Clergy
(5-10%)
Peasants
(85-90%)
Nobility
(They did NOT work the land)
• Two “Types:”
• Lords-usually wealthy landowners
• Knights-the Warriors pledged to provide
military service to a lord.
Fief-Land (and serfs to work it) given to
knights in return for military service.
• Most were illiterate.
Food For Nobles
• Dominated by bread/porridge & meat (fish,
chickens, pigs & wild game; rarely beef), dairy;
beer was common.
• Expensive imports: Middle Eastern exotic
spices (sugar), wine from France.
Peasants/Serfs
• Made up 85-90% of the population.
• They were tied to the land worked the land for
the Lords & knights (50-500 on an estate).
• In return they received:
– Protection
– A portion of the crops they raised (75-90%)
• Contracts…
Life On Medieval Manor
(Nobles Hunt While Peasants Work; Castles vs.
Huts)
Daily Life in Middle Ages
(fast forward 18 seconds)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pypbyC548dw
Food & Life For Peasants/Serfs
• Diet was VERY monotonous: black
bread/porridge & beer were the staples; eggs &
dairy (some fish, but not much meat)
Famine = threat
• Homes: one room, wooden sides, thatched
roofs & one (large) bed
• Daily routine was dominated by seasons &
Christian celebrations
Life For Peasants/Serfs
• Women were subject to
their husband’s authority
Children
• 30-50% of children died
before reaching age 5
• Marriage Age:
– Boys = 14
– Girls = 12
Dance of Death
Preparing For
Winter
Baking bread &
slaughtering pigs…
Entertainment
(A Harvest Festival Sponsored by Lord of
Manor)
Entertainment
Cockfighting
Taverns
Entertainment
(Marriage Ceremony)
• Up to 1300s couples
often waited for a
pregnancy to hold a
church service
• Between 12th & 14th
centuries “modern”
church services were
developed
• Marriages were
arranged
Towns & Cities
(Only 5% of population)
• London: 10,000 (in 1200s)
• Paris: 210,000 (in 1328)
• Italy (in 1200s)
– Florence: 100,000
– Milan: 90,000-100,000
Guild System
(Origins of modern industry)
• Guilds: A training/education system to
ensure quality in the products produced.
– Master: Shop-owner (if they had enough
money & connections).
– Journeymen: wage plus room & board.
– Apprentice: worked for room & board with
hope of advancement (seven years).
– Unskilled Laborer: received room &
board with little or no hope of advancement
Master
Journeymen
Apprentice
Unskilled Laborers
Guild Workers Dyeing Cloth
Population Drops
• It is estimated that between 1300-1450
Europe lost 50-65% of its population.
• Why?
1. Famine: between 1000-1300 population
doubled, but food production didn’t.
2. Disease (Pestilence): Beginning in 1350
the “Black Death” spread & killed many.
A Physician In A Plague-Protecting
Suit
Despair All Over Society
Daily Life in the Middle Ages
(1000-1600)
I.
Rural Areas
A. Nobility
B. Peasants/Serfs
II. Towns/Cities
A. Size
B. Industry
III. Population Drops
A. Why?
1. Food
2. Pestilence
•
•
•
•
•
Key Terms
Feudalism
Vassal/Knight
Fief
Guild System
Black Death