Middle AgesMiddle Ages

A.D. 476- 1450A.D. 476- 1450

Society was divided into three groupsSociety was divided into three groups

FIGHTERSFIGHTERS

Group 1Group 1

Knights and LordsKnights and Lords

PRAYERSPRAYERS

Group 2Group 2

Priests and NunsPriests and Nuns

WORKERSWORKERSGroup 3Group 3

Craftsman, Merchants, and PeasantsCraftsman, Merchants, and Peasants

The Kings Word The Kings Word Giving OrdersGiving Orders

He could have you thrown into jail He could have you thrown into jail or have your head chopped off.or have your head chopped off.

The Lords took orders from the King.The Lords took orders from the King.

The Lord gave orders to the Knights.The Lord gave orders to the Knights.

Everyone could order around a peasants.Everyone could order around a peasants.

KING

LORD

KNIGHT

Learning a TradeLearning a Trade Craftsman made goods.Craftsman made goods. Merchants bought and sold Merchants bought and sold

goods.goods. Peasants worked the land for Peasants worked the land for

the Lord.the Lord. Young boys were sent to live Young boys were sent to live

with a family of a craftsman to with a family of a craftsman to learn a trade. After 7 years as learn a trade. After 7 years as an apprentice, he could go out an apprentice, he could go out and work on his own.and work on his own.

Girls stayed in the home and Girls stayed in the home and worked along side their worked along side their Mother. The wealthier girls Mother. The wealthier girls would also be taught in the would also be taught in the home by tutors. They would home by tutors. They would learn to read and to do simple learn to read and to do simple arithmeticarithmetic..

Becoming a KnightBecoming a Knight

At the age of 7 a boy would leave his parents and go to At the age of 7 a boy would leave his parents and go to live with a Nobel Family. As their Page he would serve live with a Nobel Family. As their Page he would serve food, help the Lord dress, and learned how to ride and food, help the Lord dress, and learned how to ride and fight with a sword.fight with a sword.

When he turned 14 he became a Squire. He would follow When he turned 14 he became a Squire. He would follow his master into battle and look after his horse and armor.his master into battle and look after his horse and armor.

Most would become knights by the time they turned 21.Most would become knights by the time they turned 21. At times of conflict a King would call upon the Lords and At times of conflict a King would call upon the Lords and

Knights for protection. The lords and Knights would Knights for protection. The lords and Knights would sometimes send the King money to get out of his sometimes send the King money to get out of his responsibility.responsibility.

It could take up to an It could take up to an hour for a knight to dress hour for a knight to dress for battle.for battle.

The armor was about 55 The armor was about 55 pounds. pounds.

It was made-up of many It was made-up of many parts but the most parts but the most important pieces were important pieces were the the helmethelmet (a hard metal (a hard metal covering for the head), covering for the head), the the chain mailchain mail (interwoven links of iron (interwoven links of iron to help deflect slashing to help deflect slashing wounds), wounds), breastplatebreastplate(large metal (large metal covering to protect the covering to protect the vital organs in the upper vital organs in the upper body), and the body), and the gauntletgauntlet (a glove that protected (a glove that protected the hands and wrists).the hands and wrists).

Knights at PlayKnights at Play One favorite sport was One favorite sport was hunting. With bows and hunting. With bows and arrows, hunters tracked arrows, hunters tracked wolves and fierce wild wolves and fierce wild boars.boars.

Another popular sport Another popular sport was hawking. Knights was hawking. Knights and Ladies tamed hawks and Ladies tamed hawks and then taught them to and then taught them to catch small birds.catch small birds.

The most fun of all was The most fun of all was the tournament, a series the tournament, a series of mock battles that of mock battles that lasted many days. lasted many days. Knights were sometimes Knights were sometimes wounded or killed in wounded or killed in these activities.these activities.

CastlesCastles The first castles were The first castles were made of wood. They made of wood. They stood on a mound stood on a mound called a called a mottemotte. The . The outer enclosure was outer enclosure was called a called a baileybailey..

The term The term moatmoat was was first developed to first developed to define the dividing of define the dividing of a waterway to a waterway to enclose a living area enclose a living area as a form of as a form of protection.protection.

To enter a castle one had to pass over the moat by way of the To enter a castle one had to pass over the moat by way of the drawbridge drawbridge (#3 in the picture). The (#3 in the picture). The portcullisportcullis was a sliding iron was a sliding iron gate used to block passage through the castle gate (4). Armed gate used to block passage through the castle gate (4). Armed guards stood behind guards stood behind battlements battlements (2) which helped protect them (2) which helped protect them during an attack.during an attack.

The castle relied on The castle relied on walls, towers, and strong walls, towers, and strong gatehouses for their gatehouses for their defense. The defense. The outer wallouter wall surrounded the whole surrounded the whole castle, and the castle, and the inner wallinner wall surrounded the keep.surrounded the keep.

The largest stone structure in a castle was known as the keep. This was the strongest tower where the Lord would make his last stand during a siege when all the other castle defenses had failed.

Castle Residents and Castle Residents and VisitorsVisitors While the Lord was While the Lord was

away the constable (a away the constable (a commander) was in commander) was in charge of the castle. charge of the castle. The constable would The constable would appoint others to look appoint others to look after finances and after finances and supplies.supplies.

When Lords visited When Lords visited other castles they would other castles they would bring them priest, bring them priest, soldiers, and a host of soldiers, and a host of servants, swelling the servants, swelling the number of residents number of residents from 20 to around 200.from 20 to around 200.

Entertainers, such as Entertainers, such as jugglers, jesters, jugglers, jesters, minstrels, and traveling minstrels, and traveling actors called mummers, actors called mummers, would come to entertain would come to entertain the guests.the guests.

No One could enter No One could enter the Castle without the Castle without going through the going through the heavily guarded heavily guarded gatehouse. gatehouse.

At night a bell was At night a bell was rung and the doors rung and the doors of the town were of the town were shut. No one could shut. No one could leave or enter until leave or enter until daybreak.daybreak.

The bell was also a The bell was also a signal for the signal for the townspeople to townspeople to cover their fires cover their fires with the dome-with the dome-shaped clay pots shaped clay pots called curfews called curfews (from the French (from the French word meaning to word meaning to cover fire).cover fire).

Royal Home LifeRoyal Home Life The top room of the Lord’s The top room of the Lord’s

tower (in the keep) was the tower (in the keep) was the wardrobe (1), a place where wardrobe (1), a place where linens and clothes were linens and clothes were kept.kept.

The master bedroom (2) The master bedroom (2) had rush mats to warm the had rush mats to warm the floor and rich tapestries on floor and rich tapestries on the walls to keep the cold the walls to keep the cold out.out.

The solar (3) was the Lord The solar (3) was the Lord and Lady’s private living and Lady’s private living room. After meals they room. After meals they would retire here to play would retire here to play games like chess.games like chess.

A trapdoor from the solar A trapdoor from the solar led down to the basement led down to the basement (4). Weapons, coins and (4). Weapons, coins and other valuables might have other valuables might have been kept here.been kept here.

Toilets were sometimes Toilets were sometimes built on different floors, one built on different floors, one above the other. The above the other. The topmost one was often in topmost one was often in the open air.the open air.

Waste from the toilets Waste from the toilets dropped down into the moat dropped down into the moat or into a special pit.or into a special pit.

Bathing was so costly, only Bathing was so costly, only the rich could enjoy it. King the rich could enjoy it. King John bathed once a month John bathed once a month and it would cost him five and it would cost him five pence (a worker had to pence (a worker had to labor for a whole week for labor for a whole week for this amount).this amount).

What problems could occur What problems could occur due to these unsanitary due to these unsanitary conditions?conditions?

Food PreparationFood Preparation Food was often prepared with many spices which helped to Food was often prepared with many spices which helped to

disguise the taste of rotten meat. disguise the taste of rotten meat. Food was also very sweet because it was often cooked with Food was also very sweet because it was often cooked with

fruits.fruits. Food could be colored with vegetable dyes and sometimes Food could be colored with vegetable dyes and sometimes

gilded with gold to make a richer presentation.gilded with gold to make a richer presentation.

Cauldrons were used to Cauldrons were used to cook many things at cook many things at once, shown here; eggs once, shown here; eggs (1), chickens, (2) and fish (1), chickens, (2) and fish (3), in sealed pottery (3), in sealed pottery jars, puddings in cloth jars, puddings in cloth bags (4), and slabs of bags (4), and slabs of bacon (5).bacon (5).

Pots and pans were Pots and pans were cleaned with sand or cleaned with sand or soapy herbs.soapy herbs.

Kitchens were not the Kitchens were not the cleanest places and cleanest places and attracted all kinds of attracted all kinds of pests. Rats were pests. Rats were everywhere, in kitchens, everywhere, in kitchens, cellars, and stables. They cellars, and stables. They spread many diseases spread many diseases including the plague.including the plague.

Fun and GamesFun and Games

Religious festivals were very Religious festivals were very important to everyday life. important to everyday life. People took off work for People took off work for these public holidays.these public holidays.

Many plays based on Many plays based on biblical stories were biblical stories were performed in the streets by performed in the streets by traveling entertainers.traveling entertainers.

Other entertainers, like this Other entertainers, like this bear trainer and traveling bear trainer and traveling puppeteers, would try and puppeteers, would try and lure the audience away lure the audience away from the shows. from the shows.

Think About…Think About…

How would you have How would you have survived in the Middle survived in the Middle Ages?Ages?

What would have been What would have been your trade or rank?your trade or rank?

What do you think would What do you think would have been the most have been the most difficult part of the difficult part of the Medieval life style?Medieval life style?

What is the one modern What is the one modern thing you could not do thing you could not do without? Is it life saving without? Is it life saving or just a luxury?or just a luxury?