The Middle Ages:Elite Occupations

Christine Wilson

Elite Society in the Middle Ages

Nobility and royalty only made up about 1% of the medieval population, but they managed and controlled the lives of the masses.

Status was delicate, and a single event could make a family lose or gain power.

It’s difficult to make solid divisions between the groups of the upper class because of the network of relationships that connected them all, but there was a basic chain of power.

The King

Upper Nobles

Elite Clergymen

Lower Nobles and Noblewomen

Noble-born Knights

The Pope

Noble Assistants, Respected Craftsmen, Etc.

Elite Occupations: the Pope

His job was to rule over the entire Church and the officials and members in it

He acted as God’s representative on earth

He had the power to influence the king and his advisors

If anyone went against the Church, he could excommunicate that person, even if it was the king.

The Pope

Elite Occupations: the King

He was entitled to great wealth, many servants, and as much land as he wanted

People looked to him for secular management and a good religious example

His duties included managing vassals and fiefs, appointing knights and bishops, and leading battles and other conflicts

He had absolute power over all decisions and everyone but the pope

The King

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Elite Occupations: Upper Nobles

Most upper nobles received their land directly from the king.

Many upper nobles had titles like ‘duke’ or ‘earl’.

A noble had total power over his land, or manor, and the people living on it.

His duties involved overseeing the farming and finances of the manor and collecting taxes from those who lived there.

He also acted as a judge on the manor, settling disputes between the people.

Upper Nobles

Elite Occupations: Elite Clergy

Though their duties and status varied, all clergymen were highly respected in the middle ages.

Some of the most respected clergymen were bishops. They answered to the pope and oversaw many churches and church officials.

Many bishops dabbled in secular importance, becoming very wealthy and even joining the royal court.

Elite Clergy

Elite Occupations: Lower Nobles

Lower nobles received their land from a network of upper nobles rather than the king himself.

Lower nobles had significantly less political power than upper nobles, and usually had control of just one manor.

On his manor, a lower noble’s duties were essentially the same as an upper noble’s would be. He acted as the executive on the manor and maintained loyalty to his lord.

Lower Nobles

Elite Occupations: Elite Women

Though a noblewoman had no rights, she managed domestic affairs in the manor house.

She would oversee household tasks.

She also purchased expensive materials and made sure that the household had enough provisions.

Her main duty was to bear and care for her children.

Though noblewomen were sometimes marginalized, they were just as capable as their husbands.

Noblewomen

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Elite Occupations: Knights Knights made a living as

professional warriors. They were valuable to those

they served because they could fight on horseback.

A knight would pledge to serve the king or a nobleman in battle, and would be repaid for his military service.

They were held to the highest standards of conduct, bravery, and strength.

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Knights

Elite Occupations: Noble’s Assistants

Scribes were trained to copy documents and take dictation.

Heralds acted as a knight’s assistant and made announcements to the public.

Reeves supervised all work on a manor.

Chancellors acted as the secretary of a royal or noble person.

Noble’s Assistants

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Elite Occupations: Respected Craftsmen

Though craftsmen were technically workers, certain crafts were highly respected.

Goldsmiths worked with gold to make jewelry and other fine items for nobles and royalty.

Carpenters were skilled craftsmen who built anything from furniture to siege engines out of wood.

Joiners were even more skilled than carpenters. They built ornamental furniture such as cabinets without the use of nails.

Respected Craftsmen

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Elite Occupations: Mystics and Medics

In the middle ages, medicine, religion, and superstition were all closely intertwined.

Astrologers studied the stars and planets, and most people viewed them as mystics.

At the time, there was thought to be a connection between parts of the body and the zodiacal signs, so many astrologers trained physicians with a basic understanding of the zodiac.

Mystics and Medics

Elite Occupations: Mystics and Medics

Physicians were self-proclaimed elite doctors who had studied old Greek medical texts.

Little was known about medicine, disease, or the human body, and the average physician's medical knowledge was a mixture of tradition and spiritual beliefs.

When treating a patient, a physician would examine a patient to determine the balance of his or her humors.

The physician would then prescribe something to restore the balance, which often involved bloodletting and herbal remedies.

Mystics and Medics