Daily Life in the Middle Ages

1000 to 1300 Medieval Golden Age

Christianity accepted as the norm over Western Europe.

Invasions and wars are slowing down, Post-Roman power vacuum filled.

Faith in the Middle AgesLow literacy rate led to a rich oral culture (troubadour tales

and passionate sermons)Uncertainty about scripture gives the Church gives them

authority over the text. (Hierarchical)Faith was a constant factor and part of their lives. Personal

and well attended faith.

Life and WorkAgricultural societies: groups of families/clans would live in small villages, share pasture, and

work together.Rural life was more prevalent than urban life. European medieval societies relatively small.

Freemen and Serfs

Freemen: Not bound to any particular plot of land. They worked for themselves. Relatively free economically.

Serf: Not free/watered down version of Roman slavery. They did not own their land, they may rent a small plot and

exchanged taxation for protection. Permanently fixed to the land and lord led to stability for them.

Authority Over Liberty

Tyranny was not the opposite of freedom. Authority existed to bring security. The opposite of tyranny was

legitimate authority for the common good. (Philosopher King)

Urban Life

Not the dominate form of life. Required a bit of wealth because you bought most items necessary for life. People sold goods and services out of the ground floor of their homes. Goods would be out

on display for purchase.

Guild System

Guilds: Professional organizations that trained new artisans (skilled workers) and protected

their professional interests. (prices, labor supply, quality)

Apprentice to Master

Individuals who desired to learn skilled labor apprenticed themselves to a guild and learned the craft from an approved teacher.

You would then become a journeyman, which meant you still worked under a master but were proficient in most areas of your craft.

Master/Masterpiece

When journeymen were ready to graduate a become masters (they regulated the guilds,

received higher earning, open your own shop), they created a masterpiece which demonstrated

the mastery of their particular craft.

Marriage

Economic as well as a emotional consideration. Brides and grooms did not have a lot of say in choosing a spouse.

Dowry- gift that the husband/husband’s family gave to the wife/wife’s family which secured the wife economically if the husband died. (Her safety net if the husband passed) Wife’s family bargained to ensure

the wife’s security

Health

Health was a significant issue. Impacted women more than men. 50% chance of making it to adult hood.

50% of children die between newborn and 4. If you made it past 20’s you had a good chance of making it to old

age.

Women and children die at an extremely high rate. Death was a large part of life. Men would marry often more than

once.

Daily Life in the Middle Ages Video