The Middle Ages The Middle Ages (or Medieval Times) was a time of lords and peasants; manors and huts; very rich and very poor.

The first half of the middle ages is often referred to as the Dark Ages.

After the fall of the Roman Empire, a large amount of Roman culture and knowledge was lost. This was because the Romans kept excellent records of events that occurred. Therefore, historians refer to the time after the Romans as dark because there was no central government recording the events. The Lord of the Manor

Life in the Middle Ages would be very different depending on which social class you fell into and how much money (or wealth) you had.

For safety and defence, people in the Middle Ages formed small communities around a Central Lord or Master. These communities were called Manors and the ruler was called the Lord of the Manor. The Manor

Each manor would have a castle (or manor house), a church, a village, and farm land. Self-Sufficiency Each manor was largely self- sufficient. This meant that people living in that community would grow or produce all of the basic items they needed for food, clothing, and shelter. To meet these needs, the manor had buildings devoted to special purposes, such as:

 The mill for grinding grain

 The bake house for making bread

 The blacksmith for creating metal goods.

Power and Wealth

This pyramid shows the KING power in the country during the Middle Ages. The King is at the top of Loyalty Military Aid the pyramid because he LORDS OF THE MANORS had ultimate power over the whole country. He would also have Food Protection Shelter Loyalty Military Service been the most wealthy. KNIGHTS

Food Protection Shelter

Farm the Pay Land PEASANTS (SERFS) Rent The Lord of the Manor

The second most powerful group of people were the Lords of the Manor. They would give loyalty to the King and fight for him in battle in return for their Manor that they could live in and rule over. The Lords were very wealthy because of the taxes they collected from their people but not as wealthy as the King. Knights

The third most powerful group of people were the Knights. They would give loyalty to their Lord of the Manor and fight for him in battle in return for a place to live; a decent amount of food and protection. The Knights were less wealthy than the Lord but they lived decent lives. The Peasants

At the lowest level of society were the peasants (or serfs). They would farm the land all year round for the knights and Lord to help provide them with all the food they would need but they gave away the vast majority of what they harvested. They also had to pay very high taxes (rent). In return, they would be given a poor amount of food to survive on and a very basic place to live. A Peasants’ Farming Year Peasants’ Homes

Many peasant families ate, slept and spent time together in very small quarters, which rarely had more than one or two rooms. The houses had thatched roofs and were easily destroyed.

The Kitchens of Peasant Homes

In simpler homes, where there were no chimneys, the kitchen only had a basic hearth in the center of the room. This was not only where the cooking took place, but also the source of central heating. The house would always be very smoky and there was a risk of the roof (and house) being set alight by the open fire. The Peasant Diet

In peasant families, the wife did the cooking and baking. The peasant diet consisted of bread; vegetables from their own gardens; dairy products from their own sheep, goats, and cows, and sometimes pork from their own livestock. Homes of the Wealthy The homes of the rich were far bigger and stronger than peasants' homes. Their floors were paved or sometimes even decorated with tiles, instead of being covered just in hay. Tapestries were hung on the walls, providing not only decoration but also an extra layer of warmth. Lords would often have glass in their windows, which was a treat that only the very rich could afford.

The Kitchens of Manor Houses The kitchens of Manor Houses and castles had big fireplaces where meat, even large oxen, could be roasted on spits. These kitchens were usually in separate buildings, to minimise the threat of fire and eliminate the smoke. The Diet of the Wealthy

Lords and Knights might have had a separate food store or pantry. Pantries were often hung with a wide range of meat, including swans, blackbirds, ducks, pigeons, rabbits, mutton, venison, and wild boar. Many of these animals were caught when the rich went on hunts. Peasant Clothing Peasant clothing was usually made from poorer, duller natural materials like wool or linen. Peasant men wore stockings and tunics, while women wore longer gowns and wimples to cover their hair. Sheepskin cloaks, woollen hats and mittens might have been worn in the winter for protection from the cold and rain. Outer clothes of the poor were almost never washed. Clothes worn close to the body would be washed when possible but always by hand and dried near the fire. Clothing of the Wealthy

The rich would also wear clothes made from natural materials like wool and linen but their clothes would be brighter in colour and better in quality. Their clothes would often be longer and therefore warmer. Wealthy women wore long, flowing gowns and a range of headwear. These included headdresses shaped like hearts or butterflies; tall steeple caps and Italian turbans.

Fur and Jewellery

Animal fur was often used to line the clothing of the very wealthy and this added extra warmth. Jewellery was only worn by the rich. It was always very beautiful and much of it imported from other countries. Gem cutting was not invented until much later so most stones were not very bright. Ring brooches were commonly worn by wealthy men and women in the Middle Ages.