![]() Interesting Facts about Daily Life in the Middle Ages University students would study a wide range of subjects including reading, writing, logic, math, music, astronomy, and public speaking. The first universities also began during the Middle Ages. Here students would learn to read and write Latin. There were some schools run by the church. They would go to live in the castle of another lord where they would work for the lord, learning about how a large manor was run. Wealthy children often learned through tutors. Some children learned a craft through apprenticeship and the guild system. Most peasants learned their job and how to survive from their parents. Very few people attended school in the Middle Ages. The nobles ate a wider variety of food including meats and sweet puddings. Leftover meat was smoked or salted to preserve it. Since they didn't have a way to keep their meat cold, they would eat it fresh. Other foods like meat, cheese, and eggs were usually saved for special occasions. The stew would have beans, dried peas, cabbage, and other vegetables sometimes flavored with a bit of meat or bones. Peasants during the Middle Ages did not have a lot of variety in their food. These laws stated who could wear what types of clothes and what materials they could use. In order to separate the nobles from the peasants, laws were passed called "sumptuary" laws. Women wore a long skirt called a kirtle, an apron, woolen stockings, and a cloak. Men generally wore a tunic, woolen stockings, breeches, and a cloak. The wealthy, however, wore much nicer clothes made from fine wool, velvet, and even silk. Most peasants wore plain clothing made from heavy wool to keep them warm during the winter. The home was usually dark, smoky from the fire, and uncomfortable. In the country, the family animals, such as a cow, may also live inside the home. These homes were very crowded and usually everyone slept in the same room. Other jobs in the city included servants, merchants, bakers, doctors, and lawyers.Īlthough we often think of pictures of large castles when we think of the Middle Ages, most people lived in small one or two room homes. Young boys would serve as apprentices for seven years learning a craft. A lot of people worked as craftsmen and were members of a guild. They also sometimes had a few animals such as chickens for eggs and cows for milk.Ĭity life was very different from country life, but it wasn't much easier. They also had gardens where they grew vegetables and fruits. They grew crops such as barley, wheat, and oats. The peasants were called the lord's "villeins", which was like a servant. Local peasants would work the land for the lord. Usually there was a local lord who lived in a large house called a manor or a castle. The majority of people living during the Middle Ages lived in the country and worked as farmers. (Insert eye roll.) One of the worst positions? Having a woman on top, of course.Costumes of the Middle Ages by Albert Kretschmer Any other position had the risk of confusing gender roles, and no one wanted to see a man outside a position of power. The missionary position is pretty tried and true, but if you were going by the church’s standards, it was the only way to go. Missionary Position Was the Lay of the Land Maybe they were worried about STDs spreading.Ģ. For some strange reason, though, it wasn’t seen as a mortal sin by the church. Back in the day, condoms were made from animal bladders or intestines, and were constantly reused. Condoms Were Made of Intestine and LinenĬondoms have been around a long time, but they weren’t always made of latex. Wondering which positions were considered the worst, how people used sex toys, or what would God think of you for going down on your partner? Check out the answers (and even more about weird Medieval sex) below.ġ. Even marriage didn’t give people the freedom to go at it. But still, sex happened… just under some pretty rough restrictions. Not only were they not allowed to enjoy sex, but if they had it at all, they were seen as damaged goods in the eyes of society and the church. Women in Medieval times had it especially tough. Medieval sex (or lack thereof), was about as joyless as it gets… but it wasn’t without its oddities.Īfter all, the church was trying to look out for everyone’s immortal souls… but sometimes that meant tough love (pun intended). At worst, it was a pathway to eternal damnation. In the past, sex was seen, at best, as a necessary evil to make babies. ![]() We can all agree that sex is pretty awesome.
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