People of the Middle Ages

Background Information The Middle Ages occurred after the Classical Age of ancient Greece and Rome and before the Renaissance. This time is also known as the Medieval Period (coming from the Latin medium aevum which means "the middle ages." Life in the Middle Ages was very different from life today. The Middle Ages was a time of chivalry, quests, feudalism, and often war. The Middle Ages found some people living very prosperous lives while others only survived from day to day.

The Kings and Queens A king (or lord) ruled large areas of land. To protect his land from invasion, the king gave parts of it to local lords, who were called vassals. In return, his vassals promised to fight to defend the king's land.

The Knights Knights were warriors who fought on horseback. In return for land, they pledged themselves as vassals to the king. Only the sons of lords could become knights. Candidates for knighthood began training as pages at the age of 7, learning social graces and skills such as fencing and hunting. At 13 or 14 they became squires and began to practice fighting on horseback. Squires served as assistants to knights both in the castle and on the battlefield. At 21 a squire could become a knight himself, kneeling before the lord of the manor to be "dubbed" on the shoulder with a sword. Kings, local lords, and knights were all part-of a ruling class that called itself noblemen.

The Noblewomen Noblewomen were the wives and daughters of noblemen. They were in charge of the household servants and supervised the upbringing of children. They also helped take care of the sick and the poor. In certain cases, noblewomen themselves could own land. They could inherit it from their parents or from their husbands. When a nobleman was away, his wife ruled the manor. This meant that the noblewoman, if called upon by her lord, could send knights into battle, just as a man would.

People of the Church Bishops were the leaders of the church, serving under the pope, the bishop of Rome. Most bishops were noblemen. Bishops supervised the church's priests, monks and nuns and administered its business. In many parts of Europe the church owned vast areas of land and commanded a large number of knights. In the early Middle Ages, it was not unusual for a bishop to lead his own knights into battle. Priests provided spiritual instruction and conducted religious ceremonies in local, or parish, churches. Monks and nuns were men and women who gave up their possessions and left ordinary life to live in monasteries and convents. They lived very simply, could not marry and devoted themselves to prayer, study, and helping the poor. They also served as doctors. Friars were traveling preachers who lived by begging and spread the teachings of St. Francis of Assisi.

The Merchants Merchants set up businesses in the towns that began to grow in the later Middle Ages. The most commonly traded items were salt, iron, and textiles. There were also rarer items, such as silk and spices, that came from the trade with China and the Middle East. As trade grew, a new class of highly skilled crafts- people developed. These artisans produced cloth, shoes, beer, glass and other goods that required more expertise than was available on many manor farms. Other artisans cut and shaped the stones for the cathedrals. Women plied several of these crafts, and in some, like weaving and brewing, they played the leading role. Traveling merchants brought much-desired items to small towns and villages far from the major trade routes.

The Commoners The commoners had a hard life. They were the lowest class of people and had to pay the highest amount of taxes. Also they had to work the most. The reason they didn't leave was because there was nowhere else to go. The other land was owned by another king. The commoners belonged to neither the nobility nor the church. They were divided into many groups. These groups are: the bailiff, the craftsman, the servants, and the peasants. The duties of the bailiff were: collecting taxes and managing the fiefdom. The duties of the craftsman are: making candles and shoes and other things for higher class people. The duties of the servants were: preparing beds and other things. The peasants had to farm on the little space they had, and also sold the crops. The dress of the peasants consisted of a hat made of straw, a leather smock, a long sleeved white shirt, pants, and leather shoes. The hat weighed 2-3 lbs. and the shirt was made of cotton.

The Minstrels Minstrels were entertainers who traveled from town to town, often in groups. Most minstrels were singers or musicians, but some had other skills as well. They juggled, did acrobatics, or danced. Minstrels were known by different names in different parts of Europe. In Germany minstrels were called minnesingers, in France jongleurs, in Ireland bards. The most famous minstrels were those of southern France. They were called troubadours, from the Latin word that means "to compose." Many of the love poems they composed in the local language, Provencal, are still read and admired today. The troubadours were so famous that we know 500 of them by name.

Stories and Myths Myths and legends were a big part of Medieval Times. People enjoyed telling scary stories about heroes and heroines. Robin Hood was a popular hero in Medieval Times. He appeared in many English stories and ballads. His stories were told from as far back as the 1300s! He stole from the rich, and gave to the poor. His most famous enemy was the Sheriff of Nottingham. He was known as "A right against might." The biggest part of Medieval folklore was dragons. Medieval people liked to scare each other with dragons.

Perhaps it was a knight in shining armor, thundering up on a magnificent horse, wielding a blazing sword. Or maybe it was a great king in a mighty castle with banners snapping in the wind. Could it have been the image of a lady in a flowing gown and pointy hat, trailing veils behind her? Was it the jester in motley, the monk in his scriptorium, the peasant behind his plow? It may even have been a tale of King Arthur that makes the Middle Ages such an interesting period in history to study.