The Country Life
The bulk of people in the Middle Ages were rural farmers who lived and worked there. Typically, a local lord resided in a substantial home called a manor or a castle. For the lord, the land would be worked by local peasants. The term “villeins” for the peasants, which was akin to a servant, belonged to the master.
All year long, the peasants toiled arduously. They raised oats, barley, and wheat among other crops. Additionally, they had gardens where they raised fruits and vegetables. They occasionally kept a few animals as well, including chickens for eggs and cows for milk.
The City Life
Although city life was substantially different from rural life, it wasn’t any simpler. Cities were congested and filthy. Many people belonged to guilds and worked as craftsmen. Young boys would learn a craft while serving as apprentices for seven years. The city also employed people to work as servants, merchants, bakers, doctors, and lawyers.
How did their residences look like?
Although when we think of the Middle Ages, we frequently envision images of enormous castles, the majority of people actually lived in modest one- or two-room houses. Everyone typically slept in the same room in these packed households. In the country, a cow or other family pets may also reside inside the house. Usually, the house was gloomy, stuffy, and smokey from the fire.
How did they dress?
In order to stay warm throughout the winter, the majority of peasants used simple garments made of strong wool. However, the wealthy wore considerably nicer clothing, including silk, velvet, and fine wool. In addition to a cloak, men typically wore a tunic, woollen stockings, and breeches. Women wore a cloak, woollen stockings, an apron, and a long skirt called a kirtle.
Laws known as “sumptuary” laws were enacted to divide the nobility from the peasantry. These restrictions specified who might wear what kinds of clothing and what kinds of fabrics.
What did they eat?
Food choices for peasants in the Middle Ages were very limited. They usually consumed stew and bread. Beans, dried peas, cabbage, and other vegetables would be included in the stew, which occasionally also included some meat or bones for flavour. Eggs, cheese, and other items were typically reserved for special occasions. They would consume their meat fresh because they lacked a method of keeping it chilled. To preserve it, leftover meat was smoked or salted. The meal that the nobles consumed included meats and sweet puddings.
Did they go to school?
The Middle Ages saw very little education. The majority of peasants inherited their trade and survival skills from their parents. Through the guild system and apprenticeships, some kids learned a craft. Wealthy kids frequently had tutors help them learn. They would relocate to a different lord’s castle, where they would reside and serve the other lord while learning how to manage a sizable estate.
The church operated a few schools. Latin reading and writing would be taught to kids here. During this time period, the earliest universities also had their start. A vast range of courses, including reading, writing, logic, maths, music, astronomy, and public speaking, would be studied by university students.
Interesting Details about Mediaeval Daily Life
Due to the millstones used to grind the grain, the bread that people in the Middle Ages consumed was grittly. The people’s teeth quickly wore out as a result of this.
On the lord’s property, peasants were not permitted to go hunting. In some cases, the penalty for taking a deer was death.
At the time, medicine was extremely basic. Leeches were occasionally applied to people’s skin by doctors to “bleed” them.
Most people drank wine or ale. They would become sick from the contaminated water.
Particularly for nobles, marriages were frequently arranged. Noble boys and girls frequently marry at ages 12 and 14, respectively.