A Tour of Medieval Life and Literature a.k.a The Coolest Powerpoint About Old Stuff. Ever.

Feudal Life People formed small communities around a central lord or master. Most lived on a manor, which consisted of the castle, the church, the village, and surrounding farm land. These communities were isolated. Occasional visits from peddlers, soldiers, or pilgrims...

not THESE pilgrims...

Religion The Catholic Church was the only church of the Middle Ages. Bishops and Archbishops played leading roles in government. These men were often wealthy, and from noble families, and ruled over groups of parishes. Parish priests came from humbler backgrounds, often with little education. They tended to the sick and taught Latin and the texts of the Bible if they were capable of doing so. Churches grew, based on size of congregation. (They quickly outgrew the Roman churches.) There was an eventual competition to see whose cathedral was the tallest!

Cash Cab Question of the Day: What cathedral was begun in 1247, and was SO tall, that the roof collapsed due to structural design less than 100 years later?

Answer: Beauvais! You were right! Good job. In 1284, only twelve years after completion, part of the choir vault collapsed, along with a few flying buttresses. It is now believed that the collapse was caused by resonant vibrations caused by high winds, and the height of the vault.

(What up,) Homes(?) Homes in the Middle Ages were cold, damp, and dark. It was often warmer and lighter outside than it was inside. Roofs were thatched. Families rarely lived in more than one or two rooms. Unless...you had money! Isn’t THAT better? (Let us not look out into the back yard.)

Clothing of the Middle Ages People wore woolen clothing, with undergarments made of linen Long jackets, brighter colors, and better material meant money.

Food of the Middle Ages Meats were smoked and dried Vegetables and fruits were pickled. Spoons and knifes were used by everyone, and each person had, and carried, their own knife. They ate out of trenchers. These were like plates, but were pieces of hard bread that would soak up the liquids of the meal. Food was often “disguised” with spices to hide the taste of rotten meat. Yummy.

The poor drank ale, mead, or cider. Staples of their diet included barley and pottage, and very little meat. The rich drank wine and ate many different things, including generous servings of meat. (Many castles kept honeybees and had their own orchards.) INTERESTING FACT: The cook in the castle was required to taste the king’s food to make sure it was free of poison!

Health (or lack thereof) More people=terrible hygienic conditions People believed that diseases were spread by odor. They also believed that sickness and disease were a direct result of the sins of the soul. Sought relief through meditation and prayer.

Black Death Facts

“Canterbury Tales is actually a story about stories...”