Medieval Castles/Medieval Life By Catherine Walsh

In the Castle Castles were owned by the rich – King / Queen Castles were difficult to build and maintain Many servants were needed – Cleaning, cooking, hunting, and protecting the king / queen

Manors Manors are smaller than castles They needed fewer servants Lords and ladies lived in manors

Peasants Also called “serfs” Could buy freedom with money Didn’t own anything but their stomachs Grew their own food Lived in very small homes 14 by 50 feet – Straw roofs, walls were made of clay

Jobs in the Village Each town had crafts people, merchants, and markets Craftsmen were grouped in guilds –S–Shoe making, weaving and masonry –S–Some guilds still exist today i.e. The Masons Tanners –M–Made and sold leather goods At the village market goods were sold

Wise Women… Untrained village women who administered home remedies to peasants Peasants went because they were poor They did not have real medicines and cures – Sheep’s Dung and wine was used for small pox They used anything around them – Eels, bruised cat’s ears, beer, worms, herbs and dung from all farm animals

Recipe from a Wise Women… To improve hearing… A decayed grey eel, horse dung inserted into the ear Bleeding wound… Hot fresh pig’s dung Toothache…. A bruised cat’s ear left on the tooth for 3 days

The Fuller Wool was an important raw material of the Middle Ages A Fuller would place fresh cut wool in stale urine and stomp on it. This process took grease out of the wool Author, Tony Robinson said: “Nothing can prepare you for the raw-meat smell of stale urine, the ammonia it gives off is so strong that it makes you want to vomit with each breath.”

Social Classes Social Classes were harsh for most Classes best to worst: 1.Kings and queens 2.Bishops 3.Barons 4.Lords 5.Peasants There were more peasants than any other class

Social Classes A surf or peasant never owned anything he grew or ate Lords owned most peasants Barons and Bishops sometimes lived in a castle with a kin or queen The lords lived in manors

Black Death 1348 A terrible plague Fleas on rats transmitted the plague village to village Rich people thought they could hide from it in their castles / manors Food became scarce and more expensive The population of England and Europe was cut by 1/2 to 1/3 during the Black Death

Church A peasant’s church had no pews or music They spoke Latin at church Rich people gave money so they could secure a place in heaven Many young noble men had careers in the church People treasured holy things like Jesus’s Cross

The End Its quiz time! Good luck, and I hope you all get a delicious prize!

Work Cited