Most people who lived in the Middle Ages lived in the countryside and worked as farmers. Usually there is a local lord who lives in a large house called a manor or castle.
Local farmers will cultivate the land for God. The farmers are called the "Velen" of God, like a servant. The farmers worked hard all year long. They grow crops such as barley, wheat and oats. They also have gardens for growing vegetables and fruits. Sometimes they also raise some animals, such as chickens laying eggs and cows producing milk.
City life is very different from country life, but it is not easy. The city is crowded and dirty. Many are craftsmen and members of guilds. Young boys will learn a craft as an apprentice, which takes seven years. Other jobs in the city include servants, merchants, bakers, doctors and lawyers.
Although we often think of pictures of big castles when we think of the Middle Ages, most people live in one or two small houses. These houses are very crowded and usually everyone sleeps in the same room. In rural areas, domestic animals, such as cattle, can also live at home. The home is usually dark and smoky from the fire, making it very uncomfortable.
What do you wear?
Most farmers wear plain clothes made of thick wool to keep warm in winter. However, the clothes worn by the wealthy are much more beautiful. These clothes are made of fine wool, velvet or even silk. Men usually wear tunics, woolen stockings, breeches and cloaks. The women wore a long skirt, apron, woolen stockings and cloak. In order to separate the nobility from the peasants, laws called "luxury goods" were passed
These laws stipulate who can wear what type of clothes and what materials they can use.
What do you eat?
Peasants in the Middle Ages did not have many types of food.Most of them eat bread and stews. The stew will have beans, dried peas, cabbage and other vegetables, sometimes with a bit of meat or bones. Other foods, such as meat, cheese, and eggs, are usually preserved for special occasions. Because they have no way to keep the meat cold, they will eat fresh. The remaining meat is smoked or salted for preservation. The nobles ate a wide variety of foods, including meat and sweet pudding.
Did you go to school?
Few people went to school in the Middle Ages. Most farmers learned work and how to survive from their parents. Some children learn crafts through apprenticeship and gang system. Wealthy children usually learn through tutoring. They will live in another lord’s castle, where they will work for the lord and learn how to manage a large estate. Some schools are managed by the church. Here, students will learn the reading and writing of Latin . The first universities also began in the Middle Ages. College students will study a wide range of subjects, including reading, writing, logic, mathematics, music, astronomy, and public speaking.
Interesting things in daily life in the Middle Ages, the bread that people ate in the Middle Ages was coarse grains without fine grinding. This causes people's teeth to wear out quickly. Farmers are not allowed to hunt on the land of the rich. The punishment for killing a deer is sometimes death. The medicine at the time was very primitive. Sometimes doctors put leech on human skin, causing people to "bleed". People mostly drink beer or wine. Unclean water will make them sick. Marriage is usually arranged, especially for nobles. Aristocratic girls usually get married at the age of 12 and boys at the age of 14.
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