Daily Life in Medieval Europe

Health in Medieval Europe When a person was sick it would be attributed to bad blood. Doctors tried to cure the illness through bloodletting.

Health in Medieval Europe In this process, a cut was made over a large vein or leeches were used to suck the bad blood from the ill person.

Nobles’ Privileges in Medieval Europe Nobles had lots of free time to engage in recreational activities like hunting. Hunters would usually go on horseback and track prey with dogs.

Nobles’ Privileges in Medieval Europe Hawks and falcons were used by both men and women to bring down larger birds. Fishponds were also often attached to castles.

Justice in Medieval Europe A criminal was someone who “disturbed the king’s peace.”

Justice in Medieval Europe In the early Middle Ages physical tests, trial by ordeal or trial by combat, were used to determine an accused person’s guilt.

Justice in Medieval Europe Punishments might include hanging, beheading, or mutilation.

Justice in Medieval Europe Executions were carried out in public and watched by large crowds.

Guilds in Medieval Europe A guild was an association of craftsmen. Each agreed to cooperate in order to increase the profits And to insure quality. Crest of a Cooper’s Guild

Guilds in Medieval Europe Boys from the ages of 10 to 14 were apprenticed by a master craftsman. They received no pay but were given food and housing.

Chivalry Chivalry was used to describe the moral code of knights and nobility in the Middle Ages.

Love & Marriage Few couples married for true love. They didn’t get the chance

Love & Marriage The ideal of courtly love insisted that men treat women with respect.

Love and Marriage Marriages were often arranged by parents or by the lord of the manor. He encouraged marriages so as to increase the number of workers on his manor.

Love and Marriage Wealthy parents wanted to arrange marriages between their daughters and wealthy men.

Love and Marriage Because of this, grooms were usually older than brides. Men were commonly 25 to 35 years old at marriage. Women were generally 12 to 18 years old.

Peasants in Medieval Europe Houses were built of wattle and daub. Most of the household ate and slept together in one main room.

Peasants in Medieval Europe Part of the family might sleep in a loft reached by a ladder. The livestock were housed under the same roof.

Peasants in Medieval Europe The livestock were housed under the same roof.

Knighthood Sons of nobles would be sent to squire in the household of a lord of higher rank.

Knighthood He began as a page running errands, and became a squire after 7 or 8 years.

Knighthood Lords organized tournaments for entertainment, to show off their wealth, and to train knights for war.

Knighthood A herald would be sent out to announce the tournament: Including place, hour, prizes, armor, and weapons required.

Feasts in Medieval Europe During dinner, even on ordinary days, entertainment was part of the feast.

Feasts in Medieval Europe Many castles employed harpers and minstrels. Often one of the guests might entertain everyone with a song.

Feasts in Medieval Europe The solid parts of soups and stews were eaten with a spoon and the broth was sipped.

Feasts in Medieval Europe Meat was cut up with a knife an eaten with fingers.

Feasts in Medieval Europe Two people shared a dish, the lesser helping the more important, the younger the older, the man the woman.

Feasts in Medieval Europe