Alchin, L.K.
Medieval Life and Times
Retrieved March 15 2012 from www.medieval-life-and-times.info
SERFS / PEASANTS
Medieval Feudalism
Interesting history, facts and information about the life of the people
who lived in England during the Medieval times
Would you find feudalism in the Dark ages or Middle ages?
Their is some variance in the views and definition of the dates which encompassed the Medieval
times which is why so many people ask "Would you find feudalism in dark ages or middle ages?"
To put this into perspective, and for ease of reference, the periods in English history have been
categorised on this website as follows:
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The Dark Ages - Anglo-Saxon England ( 410 AD - 1066 AD )
The Middle Ages - 1066 - 1485
However Feudalism was established in other parts of Europe prior to 1066 and the Norman
Conquest of England. Therefore feudalism could be found during the Dark Ages in Europe but
feudalism did not emerge in England until the Middle Ages.
When was Medieval Feudalism established in England?
Feudalism in England was established by William the Conqueror and the Normans following the
defeat of the English Anglo Saxons at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The system and structure of
feudalism had been well established in Europe for some time and the Normans imposed Medieval
Feudalism in England following the Norman Conquest.
What was Feudalism in Medieval Times?
Medieval Feudalism was based on the exchange of land (Fief) for military service, called the Feudal
Levy. William the Conqueror used the concept of Feudalism to reward his Norman knights and
supporters for their help in the conquest of England. Medieval Feudalism, demanded that everyone
owed allegiance to the King and their immediate superior. Everyone was expected to pay for the
land by providing the following services:
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Work days - completing any chores required
Providing trained soldiers to fight for the King
Providing equipment - clothes and weapons - for the soldiers
Medieval Feudalism - The Feudal Levy
When war erupted during the times of the Middle Ages troops were raised by the Feudal Levy
when there was a 'Call to Arms'. Under the Feudal Levy men were required to fight for a limited
period of 40 days - under certain circumstances this could be increased to 90 days. Medieval Nobles
and lords of the Middle Ages were expected to provide trained soldiers to fight for the King and to
provide clothes and weapons for the soldiers. The limited time requirement of the Feudal Levy was
designed to ensure that the land would not suffer from neglect.
Medieval Feudalism - The Pyramid of Power
The pyramid of power which was the Feudal system ran to a strict 'pecking' order - during the
Medieval times everyone knew their place. The order of rank and precedence in the Medieval
Feudal System was as follows:
The King
Nobles
Knights
Archbishop
Freemen
Yeomen
Servants
Peasants / Serfs / Villeins
The good thing about Medieval Feudalism was that is was possible for everyone to move higher up
the ranks of the pyramid of power and this is what everyone aspired to do. Medieval Squires and
Pages of the Middle Ages wanted to become knights. A Middle Ages Knight who proved valiant in
battle or was successful at jousting in tournaments could become wealthy and ambitious because of
Medieval Feudalism. His wealth could pay for a manor house or even a castle. If his importance in
the land increased it became possible for him to join the nobility. The most powerful nobles aspired
to be King - and the Medieval history of the Middle Ages under the feudalism pyramid describes
such coups.
Daily Life in the Middle Ages
Interesting facts and information about life and the lives of men and women in the
Medieval period of the Middle Ages
Daily Life in the Middle Ages
Daily life in the Middle ages was dictated by wealth, power and status and the feudal system. The
Feudal System was sustained by the rights and privileges given to the Upper Classes and in most
cases enacted by laws. Everything was a source of privilege for the nobles. The high ranking nobles
lived in castles with their knights, ladies and retinues. Others enjoyed their daily life on their
manors. The peasants, including serfs, freeman and villeins spent their daily life on a manor or
village.
Daily Life of a Peasant in the Middle Ages
The daily life of a peasant in the Middle ages was hard. Medieval Serfs had to labor on the lord's
land for two or three days each week, and at specially busy seasons, such as ploughing and
harvesting. What other kind of work was included in his daily life? The daily life of a peasant in the
Middle ages was hard. Medieval Serfs had to labor on the lord's land for two or three days each
week, and at specially busy seasons, such as ploughing and harvesting. The daily life of a peasant in
the Middle Ages can be described as follows:
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The daily life of a peasant started at started in the summer as early as 3am
A peasant would start with breakfast, usually of pottage
Work in the fields or on the land started by dawn and the daily life of a peasant included the
following common tasks
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Reaping - To cut crops for harvest with a scythe, sickle, or reaper.
Sowing - the process of planting seeds
Ploughing - To break and turn over earth with a plough to form a furrow
Binding and Thatching
Haymaking - cutting grass and curing it for hay.
Threshing - To beat the stems and husks of plants to separate the grains or seeds from the
straw.
Hedging - creating boundaries
Outside work finished at dusk, working hours were therefore longer during the summer
months
Peasants made some of their own tools and utensils using wood, leather and the horns from
cattle
Women generally ate when her husband and children had finished and had little leisure time
So ended the daily life of a Medieval Peasant during the Middle Ages.
Daily Life for Peasant Women in the Middle Ages
The daily life of lower class women in the Middle ages was hard. Women were expected to help
their peasant husbands with their daily chores as well as attending to provisions and the cooking of
daily meals and other duties customarily undertaken by women. The daily life of lower class women
in the Middle ages was hard. Women were expected to help their peasant husbands with their daily
chores as well as attending to provisions and the cooking of daily meals and other duties
customarily undertaken by women. The daily life for peasant women in the Middle Ages can be
described as follows:
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The daily life of a peasant woman started at started in the summer as early as 3am
She first had to prepare a breakfast, usually of pottage
Work in the fields or on the land started by dawn and the daily life of a peasant woman
during the Middle Ages would include this type of hard work during busy times especially
harvest
Preparations had to be started in order to provide the daily meals
Peasant women were expected to look after small animals - geese, chickens etc
Weaving, spinning and making and mending clothes were also part of a woman's work
Preparing rushes for lighting
Making preserves
Tending the vegetable plot and collecting berries and herbs
Women were also responsible for the children and need an understanding of medicines and
herbs for basic nursing requirements
Outside work finished at dusk, working hours were therefore longer during the summer
months
Women generally ate when her husband and children had finished and had little leisure time
So ended the daily life of Medieval Peasant women during the Middle Ages.
Daily Life in the Middle Ages - the Entertainment, Festivals and Holidays
The monotony and drudgery of Medieval daily life during the Middle ages was alleviated by the
various types of entertainment, festivals and holidays. They shared a common life in the work of the
fields, in the sports of the village green, and in the services of the parish church. They enjoyed many
holidays; it has been estimated that, besides Sundays, about eight weeks in every year were free
from work. Festivities at Christmas, Easter, and May Day, at the end of ploughing and the
completion of harvest, relieved the monotony of the daily round of labor.
What did people do in the middle ages for entertainment? Types of Medieval Entertainment varied
according to status but included feasts, banquets, jousts and tournaments, Mystery Plays, fairs,
games and sports, hunting, hawking, animal entertainment using dogs, bears and monkeys.
Entertainment in the Middle Ages - Holidays and Festivals
The monotony of Medieval daily life during the Middle ages was alleviated by the various types of
entertainment, festivals and holidays. The Medieval people of the Middle Ages shared a common
life in the work of the fields, in the sports of the village green, and in the services of the parish
church. They enjoyed many holidays; it has been estimated that, besides Sundays, about eight
weeks in every year were free from work. Festivities at Christmas, Easter, and May Day, at the end
of ploughing and the completion of harvest, relieved the monotony of the daily round of labor.
Entertainment in the Middle Ages - The Entertainers
Who were the people who provided the entertainment during the Middle Ages? The Medieval
entertainers of the Middle Ages included Jesters (A fool or buffoon at medieval courts), Mummers
(Masked or costumed merrymaker or dancers at festivals), Minstrels and Troubadours, acrobats
and jugglers and conjurers.
Games and Entertainment in the Middle Ages
Medieval Games of the Middle Ages were popular in all walks of society. Games were played by the
Upper classes and the Lower classes. By adults and children. Different types of Games and
entertainment fell into a number of different categories including Card Games, Board Games, Dice
Games, Sporting Games and Children's games. Frequently, these games were played for money or
honors, and therefore they are the ancestors of the modern day's casino games such as craps, online
slots, or roulette. The following board games were played and enjoyed as entertainment during the
Middle Ages:
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Chess
Tables - Backgammon
Nine Men's Morris
Alquerques - A classic period strategy game, an ancestor of Checkers
Fox & Geese - a game of strategy
The Philosophers Game - a game of strategy and numbers
Shovelboard - the ancestor of shuffleboard
Knucklebones - Early game of dice
Hazard - an ancestor of Craps
Outdoor Entertainment in the Middle Ages
Outdoor Entertainment during the Middle Ages centred around the Village Green and at local fairs
and included a variety of Medieval Sports:
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Archery - Archery contests were especially popular
Bowls
Colf - the ancestor of Golf
Gameball - a simple football game
Hammer-throwing
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Hurling or Shinty - a similar game to hockey
Horseshoes - throwing horseshoes at a target
Quarter-staff contests
Skittles - an ancestor of modern ten-pin bowling
Stoolball - an ancestor of Cricket
Wrestling
Outdoor entertainment also included the practises of certain festivals including May Day when
people danced around a maypole and choose a May Queen. Religious plays were re-enacted by the
Mummers.
Medieval Clothing
The History of Medieval Clothing and Clothing Sumptuary Laws
The history of Middle Ages clothing provides details of the Sumptuary Laws and an overview of
fashion through the ages of the period. The Sumptuary Laws distinguished seven social categories
and made members of each class easily distinguished by their clothing. Only the wealthy could
dress in fashionable clothing. Laws dating back to the Romans restricted ordinary people in their
expenditure. A history of clothing is detailed in a timeline charting the history of fashion. Articles in
this section include an overview of the major changes in dress, costume and clothing.
Medieval Clothing - Clothing worn by different people
The following links provide interesting facts and information about the fashion and clothes worn by
different social classes throughout the Medival period. From the 11th through the 14th centuries,
medieval clothing varied according to the social standing of the people. The clothing worn by
nobility and upper classes was clearly different than that of the lower class. Medival clothes
provided information about the status of the person wearing them. The clothing and fashion during
the times of the Middle Ages was dominated and highly influenced by the Kings and Queens of the
era. Only the wealthy could dress in fashionable clothes.
Medieval Women - Fashion and Clothes
The Women's Fashion of the early Middle Ages was still influenced by the classical styles of the
Greek and Roman women and their clothing was at times so tight as to display all the elegance of
their form. The female clothing of the time consisted of two tunics, the under one being longer but
less capacious than the other. Women also wore a long cloak over their clothing and closed shoes,
which had then begun to be made pointed. During the period of 1200 - 1300 luxury was at its height
when gold and silver, pearls and precious stones were lavished on clothing. During the period of
1300 - 1400 Women's coats and surcoats often trailed on the ground. Hats consisted of a frame of
wirework covered over with stuff which was embroidered or trimmed with lace. During the period
of 1400 - 1500 the women wore long trains to their dresses which were eventually shortened. Sleeves
became long, hanging and embroidered or fringed. Fashion dictated that women's dresses and
clothing became shorter and were trimmed in the most costly manner.
Medieval Clothing in Europe
Amongst European nations, during the Medival times of the Middle Ages, there was always one
common standard of fashion and clothing , which varied from time to time according to the
particular custom of each country, and according to the peculiarities of each race. Each European
country would imitate the fashions and clothes of another but still manage to retain its own identity.
In Italy, for instance, clothes and dress always maintained a certain character of grandeur, ever
recalling the fact that the influence of antiquity was not quite lost. In Germany and Switzerland,
clothing and garments had generally a heavy and massive appearance; in Holland, still more so.
England uniformly studied a kind of instinctive elegance and propriety in clothes. It is a curious
fact that Spain invariably partook of the heaviness of clothing peculiar to Germany because the
Gothic element still prevailed there. Fashion in France was fickle and capricious, always ready to
borrow from every quarter any style of clothes and fashion.
Medieval Fashion
Medieval Fashion
Medieval fashion during the the Middle Ages was dominated and highly influenced by the Kings
and Queens of the era. Only the wealthy could dress in fashionable clothes. Sumptuary Laws
restricted ordinary people in their expenditure including money spent on clothes, which impacted
Medieval fashion. Under the Sumptuary Laws passed by King Edward III only royalty were
allowed to wear cloth of gold and purple silk. Expensive veils were banned for lower class women.
Only the wives or daughters of nobles were allowed to wear velvet, satin sable or ermine. Medieval
Fashion changed with each king and queen. Different events which occurred during the Medieval
times of the Middle Ages also affected fashion.
Medieval Fashion - The Influence of the Crusades
The Crusades was probably the greatest influence on Medieval Fashion when fine silks, satins,
damasks, brocades, and velvets were imported from the Far East. The Medieval fashion worn in the
royal courts in Medieval Times were imitated across Europe. Fashions in France, Spain and Italy
strongly influenced the fashions of Medieval England.
Overview of Medieval Fashion
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People wore tunics, togas, trousers and laced sandals
The early Medieval period featured a simple shape with a long, wide gown decorated with
embroidery at the edges or borders
Fitted tunics remained the basic item of clothes
Hose took the place of trousers
By 1200 tight lacing was used on women's clothes to create a form fitting shape which,
girdled at the hips, created a long-waisted appearance
Gowns and sleeves were long and trailing
The length of men's clothing became shorter
Burgundian styles influenced the fashion with tight, short clothes for men and long pointed
shoes. The longer the points, the higher the status.
The women's headdresses were also long and pointed. It was also fashionable to wear the
high double horn headdresses
The tunic was narrowed and evolved into the doublet
Medieval Fashion
The Medieval Times website provides interesting facts, history and information about the clothes
and fashion which scatter the Medieval History books including Medieval Fashion. The Medieval
Times Sitemap provides full details of all of the information and facts about the fascinating subject
of the lives of the people who lived during the historical period of the Middle Ages. The content of
this article on Medieval life and times provides free educational details, facts and information for
reference and research for schools, colleges and homework for history courses and history
coursework.
Medieval Women's Fashion
Medieval Women's Fashion and clothing, like everything else was dictated by the Pyramid of Power
which was the Middle Ages Feudal System. Medieval clothes provided information about the status
of the person wearing them. The clothing and fashion during the Medieval times was dominated
and highly influenced by the Kings and Queens of the era. Only the wealthy could dress in
fashionable clothes. Sumptuary Laws restricted people in their expenditure including money spent
on clothes.
Medieval Women's Fashion
The Medieval women's clothing changed through the different eras of the Middle Ages.
Clothing
Timeline
History of Medieval Women's Fashion
in the Middle Ages
The Medieval Women's Fashion of the early Middle Ages was still influenced by
the classical styles of the Greek and Roman women
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900 - 1000
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Their clothes were at times so tight as to display all the elegance of their
form
Other clothing were made so high as completely to cover the neck
A long tunic reaching to the heels, fastened in at the waist and closed at
the wrists
A tunic might be worn with or without sleeves
Their clothing consisted of two tunics, and of a veil or drapery, which was
thrown over the head and fell down before and behind, thus entirely
surrounding the neck
Queens, princesses, and ladies of the nobility wore in addition a long
cloak lined with ermine
The typical Medieval Women's Fashion during the period of 1000 - 1100
featured:
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1000 - 1100
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The female clothing of the time consisted of two tunics, the under one
being longer but less capacious than the other
The sleeves of the clothing came down tight to the wrists, and being
plaited in many folds, whilst those of the latter open out, and only reach
to the elbow
The lower part, the neck, and the borders of the sleeves are trimmed with
ornamented bands
The waist was encircled by a girdle just above the hips
A long veil, finely worked, and fastened on the head, covered the
shoulders and hung down to the feet, completely hiding the hair, so that
long plaits falling in front were evidently not then in fashion
The under dress was made of various colours, whereas the gowns or
outer tunics were often white
The typical Medieval Women's Fashion during the period of 1100 - 1200
featured:
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1100-1200
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A cap was worn made of linen with lappets hanging down over the
shoulders
A robe was fastened round the waist which had long bands attached to
the sleeves near the wrists
The tight gown, fastened at the collar by a round buckle, and two bands
of stuff forming a kind of necklace
She also used the long cloak with the clothing and closed shoes, which
had then begun to be made pointed. Coloured bands were attached to
their shoes, which were tied round the ankles like those of sandals, and
showed the shape of the foot.
Women, in addition to their head-dress, often wore a broad band, which
was tied under the chin, and gave the appearance of a kind of frame for
the face
The surcoat was at first a garment worn only by females, but it was soon
adopted by both sexes
The surcoat was originally a large wrapper with sleeves, and was thrown
over the upper part of the robe and clothing
The surcoat was then made without sleeves
The under garment, which was made of more costly material, might be
seen
The typical Medieval Women's Fashion during the period of 1200 - 1300
featured:
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1200 - 1300
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Luxury was at its height when gold and silver, pearls and precious stones
were lavished on clothes
Massive belts of gold were also worn
Gowns with tight bodices were generally adopted
The women wore over them a tight jacket, reaching to a little below the
hips, often trimmed with fur when the gown was richly ornamented, and
itself richly ornamented when the gown was plain
They also began to plait the hair, which fell down by the side of the face
to the neck, and they profusely decorated it with pearls or gold or silver
ornaments
A pointed cap, on the turned-up borders of which the hair clustered in
thick curls on each side of the face
On the chest was a frill turned down in two points
The gown, fastened in front by a row of buttons, had long and tight
sleeves, with a small slit at the wrists closed by a button
A second robe in the shape of a cloak might also be worn, the sleeves of
which were widely slit in the middle
Clothing was embroidered and richly decorated
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The shoes were long and pointed
The typical Medieval Women's Fashion during the period of 1300 - 1400
featured:
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1300 - 1400
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Women's clothing, the coats and surcoats, often trailed on the ground
Hats consisted of a frame of wirework covered over with stuff which was
embroidered or trimmed with lace
The hair was kept back by a silken net, or crépine, attached either to a
frontlet, or to a metal fillet, or confined by a veil of very light material
Whilst male attire had extended to the utmost limit of extravagance,
women's clothing was dignified with elegant simplicity
The coat, or under garment, which formerly only showed itself through
awkwardly-contrived openings, now displayed the harmonious outlines of
the figure to advantage, thanks to the large openings in the overcoat
The surcoat, kept back on the shoulders by two narrow bands, became a
sort of wide and trailing skirt, which majestically draped the lower part
of the body
The external corset was invented, which was a kind of short mantle,
falling down before and behind without concealing any of the fine
outlines of the bust. This new article of women's clothing was kept in its
place in the middle of the chest by a steel busk encased in some rich lacework, was generally made of fur in winter and of silk in summer
The fashion of wearing false hair continued in great favour
Nets were again adopted, and head-dresses which, whilst permitting a
display of masses of false hair, hid the horsehair or padded puffs
The typical Medieval Women's Fashion during the period of 1400 - 1500
featured:
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1400 - 1500
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The women wore long trains to their dresses
These trains were shortened
Sleeves became long, hanging and embroidered or fringed
Women's dresses on becoming shorter were trimmed in the most costly
manner
The head-dresses of women consisted of very large rolls, surmounted by a
high conical bonnet
They began to uncover the neck and to wear necklaces
Women's dress was described as follows: "In this year (1487)," says the
chronicler Monstrelet, "women ceased to wear trains, substituting for
them trimmings of grebe, of martens' fur, of velvet, and of other
materials, of about eighteen inches in width; some wore on the top of
their heads rolls nearly two feet high, shaped like a round cap, which
closed in above. Others wore them lower, with veils hanging from the top,
and reaching down to the feet. Others wore unusually wide silk bands,
with very elegant buckles equally wide, and magnificent gold necklaces of
various patterns"
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The principal characteristic of female dress at the time was its fullness
Catherine de Medici introduced the fashion of ruffs and small collars
Women's dresses which were tight at the waist began to be made very full
round the hips, by means of large padded rolls and by an arrangement of
padded whalebone and steel, which subsequently became paniers
Peasant Dresses
Medieval clothing and fashion, including the Peasant Dresses, like everything else was dictated by
the Pyramid of Power which was the Medieval Feudal System. Medieval clothes provided
information about the status of the person wearing them. The clothing and fashion during the
Medieval times of the Middle Ages was dominated and highly influenced by the Kings and Queens
of the era. Only the wealthy could dress in fashionable clothes. Medieval Sumptuary Laws
restricted people in their expenditure including money spent on clothes. The head-dress worn by
people during the Medieval times of the Middle Ages immediately conveyed the rank of the person.
Peasant Dresses
The Peasant Dresses were basic and practical. The dress of the women in the lowest ranks of society
was at first a shapeless dress. The dress was fastened at the waist by a simple girdle. The dress was
covered by a shawl. The simple dresses from the Middle Ages consisted of:
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A dress of cheap woollen cloth
Colors were basic as dyes were expensive. Simple dresses were off-white, grey, brown or red
The dress was fastened by a belt or girdle around the waist or hips
A sleeveless tunic
A shawl of thick woollen material or fur, which fell from the shoulders to half-way down her
legs
Shoes were made of leather and simply wrapped around the foot
Peasant women wore wimples to cover their hair. A wimple was a piece of material, square
or circular in shape, was draped over the head to the shoulders and held in place by a band
around the brow. The wimple completely covered the hair, neck and ears by medieval
women
Mittens were worn for their warmth
Medieval Peasant Clothing
Middle Ages clothing and fashion, including the Medieval Peasant Clothing, like everything else
was dictated by the Pyramid of Power which was the Middle Ages Feudal System. Medieval clothes
provided information about the status of the person wearing them. The clothing and fashion during
the Medieval times of the Middle Ages was dominated and highly influenced by the Kings and
Queens of the era. Only the wealthy could dress in fashionable clothes. Sumptuary Laws restricted
people in their expenditure including money spent on clothes. The head-dress worn by people
during the Medieval times of the Middle Ages immediately conveyed the rank of the person.
Medieval Peasant Clothing
The Medieval peasant clothing was basic and practical. The dress of the men in the lowest ranks of
society was always short and tight, consisting of breeches, or tight drawers, mostly made of leather,
of tight tunics or doublets, and of capes or cloaks of coarse brown woollen. The tunic was confined
at the waist by a belt, to which the knife, the purse, and sometimes the working tools were
suspended. A Medieval Serfs clothing or dress consisted of:
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A blouse of cloth or skin fastened by a leather belt round the waist
An overcoat or mantle of thick woollen material, which fell from his shoulders to half-way
down his legs
Shoes or large boots
Short woollen trousers
From his belt there hung a sheath for his knife and a purse
Medieval serfs generally went bareheaded, but in cold weather or in rain he wore a woollen
hat. The simple cap was made of thick, coarse woollen cloth. In the early Middle Ages caps
were also made of felt or sheep's skin. During the 12th century, a person's rank or social
position was determined by the head-dress.
Gloves were only worn for their practical clothing value and were padded for use in tasks
such as hedging
Medieval Serfs
A medieval village or manor usually contained several classes of laborers, consisting of Medieval
Serfs and peasants. There might be a number of freemen, who paid a fixed rent, either in money or
produce, for the use of their land. Then there were Medieval Serfs who laboured in the lord's
household or at work on his domain. Most of the peasants were Medieval Serfs or villeins. The
other labourers were called Cottagers or small holders. Under feudalism the lords and nobles of the
land had certain rights over Medieval Serfs and Peasants which included the right of jurisdiction,
which gave judicial power to the nobles and lords and the right of hunting.
Definition of Medieval Serfs
Medieval Serfs were peasants who worked his lord's land and paid him certain dues in return for
the use of land, the possession (not the ownership) of which was heritable. The dues were usually in
the form of labor on the lord's land. Medieval Serfs were expected to work for approximately 3
days each week on the lord's land. A serf was one bound to work on a certain estate, and thus
attached to the soil, and sold with it into the service of whoever purchases the land.
Daily Life of Medieval Serfs
The daily life of Medieval serfs was hard. The Medieval Serfs did not receive their land as a free
gift; for the use of it they owed certain duties to their master. These took chiefly the form of
personal services. Medieval Serfs had to labor on the lord's domain for two or three days each
week, and at specially busy seasons, such as ploughing and harvesting, Medieval Serfs had to do do
extra work. The daily life of a serf was dictated by the requirements of the lord of the manor. At
least half his time was usually demanded by the lord. Medieval Serfs also had to make certain
payments, either in money or more often in grain, honey, eggs, or other produce. When Medieval
Serfs ground the wheat he was obliged to use the lord's mill, and pay the customary charge. In
theory the lord could tax his Medieval Serfs as heavily and make them work as hard as he pleased,
but the fear of losing his tenants doubtless in most cases prevented him from imposing too great
burdens on the daily life of the serf.
The Medieval Serfs Common Use of Non-arable Land
Besides the Medieval Serfs holding of farm land, which in England averaged about thirty acres,
each peasant had certain rights over the non-arable land of the manor. He could cut a limited
amount of hay from the meadow. He could turn so many farm animals such as cattle, geese and
swine on the waste. Medieval Serfs also enjoyed the privilege of taking so much wood from the
forest for fuel and building purposes. A Medieval Serfs's holding, which also included a house in the
village, thus formed a complete outfit.
Medieval Serfs Clothing
The Medieval Serfs clothing was basic and practical. A Medieval Serfs clothing or dress consisted
of:
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A blouse of cloth or skin fastened by a leather belt round the waist
An overcoat or mantle of thick woollen material, which fell from his shoulders to half-way
down his legs
Shoes or large boots
Short woollen trousers,
From his belt there hung a sheath for his knife
Medieval Serfs generally went bareheaded, but in cold weather or in rain he wore a woollen
hat
Gloves were only worn for their practical clothing value and were padded for use in tasks
such as hedging
Origin of the Medieval Serfs and Serfdom
Serfdom developed during the later centuries of the Roman Empire and in the early Middle Ages.
Most Medieval Serfs seem to have been the successors, of Roman slaves, whose condition had
gradually improved. Medieval Serfs were also recruited from the ranks of freemen who, because of
the desire to gain the protection of a lord, became subject to him.
The Oppression of Medieval Serfs
Serfdom represented a stage between slavery and freedom and therefore the oppression of
Medieval Serfs. A slave belonged to his master; he was bought and sold like other chattels.
Medieval Serfs had a higher position, for they could not be sold apart from the land nor could his
holding be taken from him. Medieval Serfs were fixed to the soil. On the other hand Medieval Serfs
ranked lower than a freeman, because he could not change his abode, nor marry outside the manor,
nor bequeath his goods, without the permission of his lord.
The Emancipation of Medieval Serfs
Serfdom was destined to be a transitory condition. The emancipation of the Medieval Serfs
occurred over many years. The most important events which led to the emancipation of the
Medieval serf in the England of the Middle Ages was the Black Death which was followed by the
Peasants revolt. The Black Death claimed nearly a third of the English population. With fewer
people the value of laborers increased which led to the Peasants Revolt. By the close of medieval
times of the Middle Ages, the Medieval Serfs in most parts of western Europe had secured their
freedom form the shackles of serfdom.
Medieval Peasant
The Medieval peasant together with freeman and villeins, lived on a manor in a village. Most of the
peasants were Medieval Serfs or Medieval Villeins. The small, thatch-roofed, and one-roomed
houses of the Medieval Peasant would be grouped about an open space (the "green"), or on both
sides of a single, narrow street. The population of one of these villages often did not often exceed
one hundred people. The Medieval Peasant shared a common life in the work of the fields, in the
sports of the village green, and in the services of the parish church. But there was time for rest and
entertainment in the life of a Medieval Peasant.
Medieval Peasant - Food
The life of a Medieval peasant changed with the seasons. Small animals required slaughtering
during the autumn as it was not economic or practical to feed animals during the winter. The meat
was then preserved in salt. Bread was a mainstay of the Medieval Peasant. Corn, grain, cabbage, ale
or cider was obtained from the local area.
Daily Life of a Medieval Peasant on the Farms
The Daily Life of a Medieval Peasant who worked on the land was often hard. A Medieval peasant
had to labor on the lord's land for two or three days each week, and at specially busy seasons, such
as ploughing and harvesting. The daily life of a Medieval peasant can be described as follows:
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The daily life of a Medieval peasant started at started in the summer as early as 3am
A Medieval peasant would start with breakfast, usually of pottage
Work in the fields or on the land started by dawn and the daily life of a Medieval peasant
included the following common tasks:
 Reaping - To cut crops for harvest with a scythe, sickle, or reaper.
 Sowing - the process of planting seeds
 Ploughing - To break and turn over earth with a plough to form a furrow
 Binding and Thatching
 Haymaking - cutting grass and curing it for hay.
 Threshing - To beat the stems and husks of plants to separate the grains or seeds
from the straw.
 Hedging - creating boundaries
Outside work finished at dusk, working hours for Medieval Peasants were therefore longer
during the summer months
Peasants made some of their own tools and utensils using wood, leather and the horns from
cattle
Women generally ate when her husband and children had finished and had little leisure time
Medieval Peasant in a Castle
Servants and Medieval peasants had to provide meals and undertake menial tasks for their lord
and his family. Many of the Medieval peasants who worked in the castles were women. Women
worked in the kitchen and were expected to cook, clean and wait on the lord. Other occupations
were carried out by the Medieval peasants within the castles as stable hands to help with the horses
and kitchen staff. The horses were extremely important to the Lord and Knights - the horses had to
be fed, groomed and their stables kept clean.
Medieval Peasant Clothing
The Medieval Peasant clothing was basic and practical. The Medieval Peasants clothes consisted of:
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A blouse of cloth or skin fastened by a leather belt round the waist
An overcoat or mantle of thick woollen material, which fell from his shoulders to half-way
down his legs
Shoes or large boots
Short woollen trousers
From his belt there hung a sheath for his knife
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Medieval Peasants generally went bareheaded, but in cold weather or in rain he wore a
woollen hat
Gloves were only worn by Medieval Peasants for their practical clothing value and were
padded for use in tasks such as hedging
Medieval Peasant - Holidays
The Medieval Peasant had their days of rest and amusement. Medieval holidays were in fact much
more numerous than at present. During the era period the festivals of the Church were frequent
and were rigidly kept by the Medieval Peasant, as each festival was the pretext for a forced holiday
from manual labour. The Medieval Peasant therefore enjoyed many holidays; it has been estimated
that, besides Sundays, about eight weeks in every year were free from work. Festivities at
Christmas, Easter, and May Day, at the end of ploughing and the completion of harvest, relieved
the monotony of the daily round of labor for the Medieval Peasant.
Daily Life of Medieval Peasant Women
The daily life Medieval Peasant women was hard. Most of the peasants were Medieval Serfs or
Medieval Villeins. Women were expected to help their peasant husbands with their daily chores as
well as attending to provisions and the cooking of daily meals and other duties customarily
undertaken by women. The daily life of Medieval peasant women can be described as follows:
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The daily life of a peasant woman started at started in the summer as early as 3am
She first had to prepare a breakfast, usually of pottage
Work in the fields or on the land started by dawn and the daily life of a peasant woman
during the Middle Ages would include this type of hard work during busy times especially
harvest
Preparations had to be started in order to provide the daily meals
Peasant women were expected to look after small animals - geese, chickens etc
Weaving, spinning and making and mending clothes were also part of a woman's work
Preparing rushes for lighting
Making preserves
Tending the vegetable plot and collecting berries and herbs
Women were also responsible for the children and need an understanding of medicines and
herbs for basic nursing requirements
Outside work finished at dusk, working hours were therefore longer during the summer
months
Women generally ate when her husband and children had finished and had little leisure time
So ended the daily life of Medieval Peasant Women during the Medieval times and era.
Medieval Peasant Women in a Castle
Medieval peasant women had to provide meals and undertake menial tasks for their lord and his
family. Many of the Medieval peasants who worked in the castles were women. Medieval Peasant
Women worked in the kitchen and were expected to cook, clean and wait on the lord.
Medieval Peasant Women
The Medieval Peasant Women lived on a manor in a village and worked either in the village or in
the local castle or Manor House. Their houses were small, thatch-roofed and had one room which
housed both the people and occasionally animals. The houses of the Medieval Peasant Women
would be located in a village and grouped about an open space (the "green"), or on both sides of a
single, narrow street. The population of one of these villages often did not often exceed one hundred
people.
Medieval Peasant Women - Food
The life of Medieval Peasant Women changed with the seasons. Small animals required
slaughtering and skinning during the autumn as it was not economic or practical to feed animals
during the winter. The meat was then preserved in salt. Bread was a mainstay of the Medieval
Peasant Women and her family. Corn, grain, cabbage, ale or cider was obtained from the local
area.
The Peasants Revolt 1381
The Medieval Times encompass one of the most exciting periods in the History of England and
Europe. One of the most important historical events of the Medieval era is the The Peasants Revolt.
What were the key dates of this famous historical event? What were the names of the Medieval
people who were involved in this historical occasion? Interesting facts and information about the
The Peasants Revolt in 1381 are detailed below. For additional facts and information click one of
the following links:
The Story and Background the Peasants Revolt
The peasants who survived the Black Death (1348-1350) believed that there was something special
about them – almost as if God had protected them. Therefore, they took the opportunity offered by
the disease to improve their lifestyle. Feudal law stated that peasants could only leave their village if
they had their lord’s permission. But many lords were short of desperately needed labour for the
land that they owned. After the Black Death, lords actively encouraged peasants to leave the village
where they lived to come to work for them. When peasants did this, the lord refused to return them
to their original village.
The Peasants Revolt - Power of the Peasants
Peasants could demand higher wages as they knew that a lord was desperate to get in his harvest.
So the government faced the prospect of peasants leaving their villages to find a better ‘deal’ from a
lord thus upsetting the whole idea of the Feudal System which had been introduced to tie peasants
to the land. Ironically, this movement by the peasants was encouraged by the lords who were meant
to benefit from the Feudal System.
The Cause of the Peasants Revolt
To curb peasants roaming around the countryside looking for better pay, the government
introduced the Statute of Labourers in 1351 that stated:
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No peasants could be paid more than the wages paid in 1346
No lord or master should offer more wages than paid in 1346
No peasants could leave the village they belonged to
Though some peasants decided to ignore the statute, many knew that disobedience would lead to
serious punishment. In 1380 the government also introduced the third Poll Tax in just four years.
Landlords were constantly increasing rents on their land to which the peasants was now tied by the
Statute of Labourers. This created great anger amongst the peasants which was to boil over in 1381
with the Peasants Revolt. It can therefore be argued that the Black Death and the Poll Tax was the
cause of the Peasants Revolt.
The Peasants Revolt of 1381
In 1381, and under the leadership of heroes such as Wat Tyler and Jack Straw, the peasants
marched to London in order to present a petition to the king. 60,000 strong, the petitioned called
for the abolition of serfdom, tithes and the game laws as well as the right to freely use the forests.
The peasants also demanded that the poll tax be abolished. John Ball, a priest who spoke regularly
to the people gathered in the marketplace, expressed the sentiments of the revolt. The rallying cry
of the peasants was a rhyme which spread dissension across the South of England:
"When Adam Delved and Eve Span
Who was then the Gentleman?"
John Ball and the other leaders urged the peasants to go to the King in London to plea their case.
Workers in the cities, especially London, rose in support of the peasants and their demands. King
Richard II, then only fourteen years of age, offered to meet the peasant demands. Under the
command of Wat Tyler, the rebels camped at Blackheath where they waited for word from King
Richard II. The king agreed to meet with the rebels but the crowds that had assembled made it
difficult for him to land at Greenwich. The frustrated rebels attacked the prison at Marshalsea and
Richard returned to his mother at the Tower. The rebels plundered Lambeth Palace, burned books
and furniture, crossed London Bridge and joined the London mob. They made their way to Fleet
Street, opened the Fleet prison and, according to Froissart's Chronicles:
"fell on the food and drink that was found. In the hope of appeasing them, nothing was refused them. .
. They destroyed several fine houses, saying they would burn all the suburbs, take London by force,
and burn and destroy everything."
The Savoy Palace, home of the King's uncle John of Gaunt, was burned to the ground. The Tower
was under siege. On June 14, Richard looked down upon the mob from his room in the Tower and
managed to arrange an interview with the rebels at Mile End where, among other concessions, he
granted their requests for the abolition of feudal services and their right to rent land at an agreed
price. Some of the rebels returned home. But for those who remained near the Tower, violence was
about to escalate.
The king had advised Simon of Sudbury, Archbishop of Canterbury and Chancellor, to seize the
opportunity to escape. But as the plan unfolded Sudbury was recognized by the rebels and the
London mob smashed their way into the Tower. One historian has described the event in the
following way:
"In the Chapel of St John the shouting rabble came upon the Archbishop, Sir Robert Hales, the
Lord Treasurer, John of Graunt's physician, and John Legge who had devised the poll tax. They
were all at prayer before the altar. Dragged away from the chapel, down the steps and out of the
gates onto Tower Hill, where traitors were executed, they were beheaded one after the other. Their
heads were stuck on pikes and carried in triumph around the city."
The Peasants Revolt - Wat Tyler meets King Richard II
The next day on 15 June 1381 King Richard II again met with the rebels. At the Smithfield
conference further concessions were granted the rebels: the estates of the church would be
confiscated, all lordships except the kings would be abolished, and all the rebels would be pardoned.
Wat Tyler rode up to the king, his "horse's tail under the every nose of the king's horse," made the
mayor of London lose his temper. He knocked Wat Tyler off his horse with a broadsword and as
Wat Tyler lay on the ground one of the king's squires stabbed him in the stomach, killing him. The
English Peasants' War was over. Wat Tyler's head was cut from his corpse and displayed on
London Bridge. John Ball was hanged, drawn and quartered in the presence of Richard II and his
quarters were displayed in four other towns as a warning to other rebel. Jack Straw was executed
and his head displayed on London Bridge. The promises made to the rebels by Richard II were
quickly withdrawn although the poll tax was abolished.