Medieval Life

Interesting history, facts and information about the life and times of the people
who lived during Medieval times

Medieval Life
What was Medieval life really like? The lives of all the classes, rich and poor, were dominated by the feudal system. What was Village life and general Medieval Life like during the turbulent era of the Middle Ages?  Discover facts and information about the Life of a noble lord, Life of a knight, the Life of a lady or noblewoman, the Life of a peasant, the Life of a peasant woman, the Life of a monk and the Life of a nun. The jobs and occupations dictated the quality of life during the Middle Ages as did Health Hygiene, medicine and doctors. This was also the time of changes, many prompted by the Crusades and travel to strange lands. The inventions of the times are described in this section and reflect the growing scientific and technical advances of the era. The section also includes an entertainment section  and Medieval sports providing the History, Facts and Information about the sports and games played during the period.

History, Facts and Information about Medieval Life

Medieval Serfs
Medieval Blacksmith
Medieval Merchant
Medieval Miller

Medieval Archer
Medieval Jesters
Medieval Bard
Medieval Peasant
Medieval Peasant Women
Medieval Villein
Medieval Doctors
Medieval Lords

Medieval Lady
Medieval Noble Women
Medieval Knight
Medieval Vassal
Troubadours
Trouveres

Minstrels
Jongleurs
Waits
Medieval Jobs
Medieval Hawking
Medieval Literature
Medieval Dance
May Pole Dancing
Life of Medieval Monks

Life of Medieval Nuns
Medieval Hunting History
Life in a Medieval Village
Life in a Medieval Castle

Lady of the Manor
Lord of the Manor

Medieval Entertainment
Medieval Sports
Medieval Health

Medieval Hygiene
Medieval Medicine
Medieval Inventions

Medieval Trade Italy
Medieval Names
Medieval Witchcraft
Medieval Fairs
The Peasants Revolt

History, Facts and Information about Medieval Life

Medieval Life
Medieval Life 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 Life on their manors. The peasants, including serfs, freeman and villeins spent their life on a manor or surrounding village life.

Medieval Life - Health, Hygiene, Medicine and Doctors
Health Hygiene, medicine and doctors. The lives of everyone during the period were subject to illness and disease. The underlying cause of many of the illnesses was due to the lack of sanitation. but Medieval Doctors did not make this link until after the outbreak of the Black Death. There were no Antibiotics during the Medieval era and it was almost impossible to cure illness and diseases without them. What was general health and hygiene like during the times? What were the diseases and what medicine or cures were there? The beliefs of the doctors regarding the causes of illnesses were based on the ancient teachings of Aristotle and Hippocrates. Medieval Doctors related the Humors to the condition or illness of the patient and treated them accordingly.

Medieval Jobs and Occupations
This section provides facts and descriptions of the different types of jobs and occupations during the era with descriptions and definitions of the jobs. Full details and descriptions of the jobs and occupations of the men and women who worked on the manors, in the villages and in the castles. Particular attention should be paid to the job of the
Medieval Blacksmith. The names given to people who undertook specific jobs and a description of the work that they undertook.

Medieval Inventions
The crusaders experienced Eastern society and lifestyle and brought back to Europe some inventions developed in this part of the world. Inventions and new products included silk, gunpowder, the compass, the astrolabe and a host of nautical inventions. The inventions of the times reflected the growing scientific and technical advances of the era.

Life of Medieval Lords, Ladies and Nobles
What was the life of Lords and Nobles like during the era? Medieval Feudalism was based on the exchange of land for military service. King William the Conqueror used the concept of feudalism to reward his Norman supporters with English lands for their help in the conquest of England. The life of Lords and Nobles centred around their castles or Manors or fighting for their liege lord or King during times of war.

Life in a Medieval Castle or Village
Discover what life was like living in a castle. Banquets formed the chief indoor entertainment. The lord, his lady and his retainers sat down to a great feast or banquet and, as they ate and drank, watched the pranks of a professional jester or listened to the songs and music of minstrels. Village life was important. The land gave the  lords and peasants their food; the forest provided them with wood for houses and furniture. They made their own clothes of flax, wool, and leather. 

Life of a Medieval Knight
What was the life of knight  like during the era? The Life of a knight  followed a similar schedule to that of the lord or the noble that he served. The Life of a Knight during the Middle ages centred around castles or Manors or fighting for his lord and the King during times of war. Much of his time was spent on honing his weapons skills and keeping his levels of fitness high.

Life of a Medieval Monks and Nuns
What was the life of monks and nuns like during the era? Monks and Nuns chose to renounce their worldly life and goods to spend their lives working under the strict routine and discipline of life in a monastery or convent adhering to a strict lifestyle encompassing their vows of chastity, poverty and obedience.  

Life of a Medieval Lady
What was the life of a Lady like during the era? The Life of a lady followed a similar schedule to that of her lord. This might be her husband, father or brother. The Life of a lady or noblewoman during the Middle ages centred around castles or Manors. Much of her time was spent on overseeing the running of the household. But a lady or Noblewoman had to take over all of the duties of her husband if he were absent.

Life of a Medieval Peasant
What was the life of a peasant like during the era? The Life of a peasant in the times was hard.  Peasants or
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 Life? The Life of a peasant in Medieval Times is fully described in the section on peasant life.

Life for Medieval Peasant Women
What was the life of peasant women like during the era? The life of lower class peasant women was hard. Peasant 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.

Entertainment, Festivals and Holidays
The monotony and drudgery of life during the Middle ages was alleviated by the various types of entertainment, festivals and holidays. The peasants 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.

Medieval Life
The Medieval Times website provides interesting facts, history and information about these great people and important historical events which scatter the History books including Medival Life. The 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 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 Life

  • Read books from a history book club or watch the History Channel DVDs
  • Life of Men and Women
  • Life of Lords, Ladies, Nobles and Knights
  • Entertainment
  • Sports and Games
  • Interesting facts, history and information
  • Daily Life - Health, Hygiene, Medicine and Doctors
  • Jobs and Occupations
  • Village Life and Town life
  • Daily life of a noble, a knight, a noblewoman, a monk, a nun and a peasant

Helpful information for history courses and history coursework - Read History Books - Medival Society - Realms - Daily Life - Village - City - Town - England - UK - Men - Women - Daily - Entertainment - Lifestyle - Castle - Manor - King - Serf - Monk - Nun - Peasant - Medival - Lives -  Medival Era and Period - History - Information - Facts - Info - Period - Medival - Daily Village - City - Town - England - UK - Men - Women - Daily - Entertainment - Lifestyle - Castle - Manor - King - Serf - Monk - Nun - Peasant - Middle Ages History - Dark Ages - Information about Medival Life - Medival Facts - Info - Times - Daily Life - Village - City - Town - England - UK - Men - Women - Daily - Entertainment - Lifestyle - Castle - Manor - King - Serf - Monk - Nun - Peasant - Medival Era and Period - History Channel DVDs - Written By Linda Alchin