Medieval Life in the Middle Ages

The Middle Ages was a time in Europe that comprised the 5th century all the way up to the 15th century. This is further broken down into the Early, High and Late Middle Ages to divide the centuries up in a more cohesive way. The Middle Ages in Europe started with the fall of the Roman Empire in 476 and is usually said to end with the fall of Constantinople to the Turks in 1453. Life during this time was extremely harsh for most people that were not members of the nobility.

Education and the Middle Ages

The Middle Ages in movies and literature always tend to show daring knights and damsels in distress. This period was filled with knights and their chivalry code that focused on honoring and serving all women, especially those in the nobility. Knights were some of the most educated people of the time, besides clerics, and those that could not read or write were commonly mocked. The ladies, on the other hand, generally were not literate and had no formal education training.

Life in the village

Village life revolved around farming for the most part and harvesting crops at different times during the year. A lord ruled each village and all men in the village had to swear loyalty to their lord. If he went to war, then the men in the village were expected to follow him. Most people in the villages stayed there their entire life without ever venturing out to other areas. The highlight of their year was usually a festival that included a large feast and recreation.

Life in the city

Many cities, especially those in England, Ireland and parts of France, were invaded by the Vikings during the Middle Ages. This led to those cities building fortified walls, which are part of the traditional Medieval architecture still seen today in those areas. The cities saw more changes compared to the villages, as they were the center for the religious reforms and other events that took place during this time period. The population explosion that occurred during the Middle Ages mainly effected the cities as they continued to grow for centuries.

The Middle Ages are still an important part of history, because so many different historical actions occurred during this time. From the Crusades to developments in science and technology, the events of the Middle Ages altered the course of history. Many large cities and empires fell during this time, but others revitalized and grew.