Life in Medieval Times

1. Life in Medieval Times Do Now: Complete Chapter 4 Pre Reading!

2. Introduction… • Start of Middle Ages - countryside (feudal manors, religious communities) • Eventually, towns were growing around castles and monasteries and trade routes. • Colorful pictures, unpaved streets, gathering places. • Streets – narrow, dirty, crowded

3. Growth of Medieval Towns • Towns were growing because of agriculture & trade. • Towns specialized in goods • Towns were originally part of the land controlled by a ruler, or domain and people had to pay taxes. Not happy! • Towns purchased a royal charter to grant them the right to govern themselves.

4. Guilds • Guilds: organization of people in the same craft or trade. • Examples: cloth makers, cobblers, stonemasons • Controlled hours and set fair prices. • Guild members paid dues. • Age 12 – apprentice: work for a master in return for training. 7 years, then produce “masterpiece”. • If approved, set up own business, or became journeymen: not an employer.

5. Trade & Commerce • Everyday items were bought and sold • Merchants grew very powerful • However, Jews were not allowed to own land, violence, etc. Jews became bankers and moneylenders because Christians were forbidden.

6. Homes and Households • Houses: built of wood, narrow, high, leaning. • Poorer families: might share houses • Wealthy merchants: different levels for business, living, housing servants. • Rooms were cold, smoky, and dim. • ½ of all children died before become adults • Boys often did the same work as father. Girls married around age 12!

7. Diseases… • Dirty, no running water. • Garbage tossed in streets and streams. • Bathed only once a week! • Rats and fleas carried many diseases • Diseases: • Leprosy: skin disease, sent off. • Measles, scarlet fever, bubonic plague Jews were blamed. Treatment included herbs and “bloodletting”

8. Crime & Punishment • Towns were crowded & unsafe! (especially at night) Pickpockets & thieves • Jails were crowded & needed to provide own food • Trial by ordeal: Accused was thrown into well. If floated, guilty! • Trial by combat: Fight to prove innocence • Punishments: stocks, hanged, burned • Common law – rulings by judges will replace.

9. Leisure & Entertainment • Children: dolls & toys, badminton, bowling • Adults: chess, checkers, dancing • Holidays & Sundays: animal bating • Fair days: jugglers, clowns. • Guilds put on mystery plays from Bible. • Miracle plays – based on saints. • Church eventually disapproves of mystery and miracle plays.