Medieval Society Page
Our cultures fairytale version of Medieval society consisted of princesses,
parties and magic! But what is the REAL Medieval times society really about? Is
it about parties and ball-gowns? Or is it about battles and feudalism? We, The
Medieval Mythbusting Ladies, are here to find the truth about the Medieval
society. Our culture is so stuck on an idea that movies and stories have
engraved into our minds about medieval society and
how social groups worked. We are going to get this “image” of medieval society
out of our heads and tell you the real, fascinating TRUTH about medieval
society.
parties and magic! But what is the REAL Medieval times society really about? Is
it about parties and ball-gowns? Or is it about battles and feudalism? We, The
Medieval Mythbusting Ladies, are here to find the truth about the Medieval
society. Our culture is so stuck on an idea that movies and stories have
engraved into our minds about medieval society and
how social groups worked. We are going to get this “image” of medieval society
out of our heads and tell you the real, fascinating TRUTH about medieval
society.
Feudalism Explained:
During Medieval Times, kingdoms used a social and political system called Feudalism. Feudalism was based on the idea of granting land in exchange for service and protection. Basically, everyone in the kingdom was a vassal, or servant. That meant they were given land by someone and took an oath of fealty, or a promise pledging loyalty to that person. The pieces of land given out were called fiefs. Though everyone was considered a vassal, there were several different social classes, and the higher up on the social hierarchy that you were, the more land, wealth, and power you had. There was four basic social classes. The highest social class was the monarch, or king. The king held the most power, and ruled over the entire kingdom. Basically, the monarchs, or kings, would grant pieces of land, called fiefs, to their closest advisors, or lords. The lords, or nobles, were the next highest social class. They would all promise to be loyal to their monarch and provide him with knights in exchange for their land. Then the lords parcel up parts of their land to either lower lords, or servants called serfs or peasants. The servants called serfs were tied to their lord's land and spent their time farming. Peasants were the same as serfs, except they were allowed to leave their owners property. So, everyone except their monarch was granted land and had to pledge loyalty to their owner, or the person who gave them land. In other words, everyone was a vassal, or servant! Serfs and peasants provided harvest, food, and supplies for their lord, and lords provide knights and money for their monarch. This system worked because all the different social classes provided for each other, and counted on each other to survive.
During Medieval Times, kingdoms used a social and political system called Feudalism. Feudalism was based on the idea of granting land in exchange for service and protection. Basically, everyone in the kingdom was a vassal, or servant. That meant they were given land by someone and took an oath of fealty, or a promise pledging loyalty to that person. The pieces of land given out were called fiefs. Though everyone was considered a vassal, there were several different social classes, and the higher up on the social hierarchy that you were, the more land, wealth, and power you had. There was four basic social classes. The highest social class was the monarch, or king. The king held the most power, and ruled over the entire kingdom. Basically, the monarchs, or kings, would grant pieces of land, called fiefs, to their closest advisors, or lords. The lords, or nobles, were the next highest social class. They would all promise to be loyal to their monarch and provide him with knights in exchange for their land. Then the lords parcel up parts of their land to either lower lords, or servants called serfs or peasants. The servants called serfs were tied to their lord's land and spent their time farming. Peasants were the same as serfs, except they were allowed to leave their owners property. So, everyone except their monarch was granted land and had to pledge loyalty to their owner, or the person who gave them land. In other words, everyone was a vassal, or servant! Serfs and peasants provided harvest, food, and supplies for their lord, and lords provide knights and money for their monarch. This system worked because all the different social classes provided for each other, and counted on each other to survive.
Fairy Tale Myths vs. Reality:
Monarchs: By Alex R
Thousands of people around the world think that Monarchs (kings and queens) were rulers of kingdoms who had celebrations all the time and always had wonderful lives. Monarchs did have ceremonies and banquets, but not as often as in the movies. In fact, Monarchs were the only ruler who had tax collectors collect taxes from towns all over the kingdom. Monarchs believed in God so much that if a person in the kingdom rebelled against them, that meant that they were going against god. Monarchs believed and were told that they had complete power over subjects, and that power was bestowed to them from God.
Monarchs depended on their lords to provide him/her with knights and soldiers. The monarch gave land to lords and the lords would then provide the king/queen with knights and soldiers for armies. The monarch also worked very hard to try to keep their lords controlled. Monarchs or the wealthy and perfect rulers as we know from movies and books were wealthy, but they were not always perfect. The monarchs also were not always about the throne and fancy castles. Some monarchs maintained control over their lords and some did not. Monarchs would try to amaze subjects and visitors with their courts in the kingdom and sometimes it would work. Monarchs were very eager to have their noblemen in court to keep an eye on the subjects. Monarchs nobles pledged the king/queens servant or vassals. That's the TRUE story of the monarchs from the middle ages.
Final analysis: Myth Busted!
Monarchs: By Alex R
Thousands of people around the world think that Monarchs (kings and queens) were rulers of kingdoms who had celebrations all the time and always had wonderful lives. Monarchs did have ceremonies and banquets, but not as often as in the movies. In fact, Monarchs were the only ruler who had tax collectors collect taxes from towns all over the kingdom. Monarchs believed in God so much that if a person in the kingdom rebelled against them, that meant that they were going against god. Monarchs believed and were told that they had complete power over subjects, and that power was bestowed to them from God.
Monarchs depended on their lords to provide him/her with knights and soldiers. The monarch gave land to lords and the lords would then provide the king/queen with knights and soldiers for armies. The monarch also worked very hard to try to keep their lords controlled. Monarchs or the wealthy and perfect rulers as we know from movies and books were wealthy, but they were not always perfect. The monarchs also were not always about the throne and fancy castles. Some monarchs maintained control over their lords and some did not. Monarchs would try to amaze subjects and visitors with their courts in the kingdom and sometimes it would work. Monarchs were very eager to have their noblemen in court to keep an eye on the subjects. Monarchs nobles pledged the king/queens servant or vassals. That's the TRUE story of the monarchs from the middle ages.
Final analysis: Myth Busted!
Lords and Ladies: By Esmee S
Many myths about about lords and ladies infer that their life was grand and filled with nothing but parties and falling in love, but their life… was just the opposite. In fact, ladies were treated with disrespect and violence. There are many stories of men doing whatever their lovely wives asked of them. But in reality, men dominated women and women were forced to obey all male members of their family. In fact, if women disobeyed men, they were beaten! Disobedience was seen by most people as a crime against religion. As you can see, women were not treated fairly, but, there is even more to this myth that needs to be busted.
Another myth about ladies, was how they dressed. Now, contrary to popular beliefs, most ladies wore clothing that was very tight so it could display their figure/form. Sometimes, clothing would go up to their neck (similar to a turtleneck). This is obviously quite different from the image of ladies that are shown in movies and stories, the bright, colorful, beautiful, flowing dresses are nothing like what they actually wore. Infact, most of medieval clothing was influenced by the Romans. Lords also have a myth waiting to be busted. Lords, in movies, were always dressed very proper, fancy, and wore tight clothing. This, is also false, early lords clothing was very loose and belted, later lords clothing was still loose and belted, but also very short. Lords were not always about fashion, they also had to attend business matters in relation to his land, they also were responsible to make political decisions for their land and other matters.
Final analysis: Myth Busted!
Many myths about about lords and ladies infer that their life was grand and filled with nothing but parties and falling in love, but their life… was just the opposite. In fact, ladies were treated with disrespect and violence. There are many stories of men doing whatever their lovely wives asked of them. But in reality, men dominated women and women were forced to obey all male members of their family. In fact, if women disobeyed men, they were beaten! Disobedience was seen by most people as a crime against religion. As you can see, women were not treated fairly, but, there is even more to this myth that needs to be busted.
Another myth about ladies, was how they dressed. Now, contrary to popular beliefs, most ladies wore clothing that was very tight so it could display their figure/form. Sometimes, clothing would go up to their neck (similar to a turtleneck). This is obviously quite different from the image of ladies that are shown in movies and stories, the bright, colorful, beautiful, flowing dresses are nothing like what they actually wore. Infact, most of medieval clothing was influenced by the Romans. Lords also have a myth waiting to be busted. Lords, in movies, were always dressed very proper, fancy, and wore tight clothing. This, is also false, early lords clothing was very loose and belted, later lords clothing was still loose and belted, but also very short. Lords were not always about fashion, they also had to attend business matters in relation to his land, they also were responsible to make political decisions for their land and other matters.
Final analysis: Myth Busted!
Knights: By Zoe C
Fairy Tales portrayed the armored soldiers in the Middle Ages as “Knights in Shining Armor”. Knights are shown as brave, valiant , handsome warriors who saved damsels in distress and fought passionately in dangerous battles for a noble cause. A huge myth that many people believe is that knights were heroes, the soldiers that would show up in gleaming armor and save the day. But is that really true? Not at all! There is a lot of incorrect ideas about knights in our culture, including the idea that most knights were war heros. For instance, in reality, during Medieval Times, most knights rarely fought in battle and instead spent their time raiding towns and sieging fortresses. Even in the raids and sieges, knights played a minimal part in the attack. As a child, boys who had a future in knighthood were trained from a very young age by older knights. They trained for 7 years as a page, then 7 years as a squire. When they reached the proper age, they were dubbed as a knight in a special ceremony.
The armor that knights wore was the one thing that set them apart from the rest of the army. However, it was very expensive, and most of the armor that knights wore was stolen or taken from a raid. So the term “Knight in Shining Armor” is not really correct. In terms of weapons, swords are always the knights top choice in the media. Yet in real life, knights often used battle axes, maces, daggers, two-handed swords, and/or lances; more aggressive methods of fighting. Basicly, knights became known in our culture for the beginning idea and purpose of knights: to fight and protect people. But what fairy tales did not cover was how knights usually acted, which was not as noble as the overall purpose for them. In all, our fairy tales’ simple-minded story of the life and personality of most knights was over-exaggerated and untrue.
Final Analysis: Myth Busted!
Fairy Tales portrayed the armored soldiers in the Middle Ages as “Knights in Shining Armor”. Knights are shown as brave, valiant , handsome warriors who saved damsels in distress and fought passionately in dangerous battles for a noble cause. A huge myth that many people believe is that knights were heroes, the soldiers that would show up in gleaming armor and save the day. But is that really true? Not at all! There is a lot of incorrect ideas about knights in our culture, including the idea that most knights were war heros. For instance, in reality, during Medieval Times, most knights rarely fought in battle and instead spent their time raiding towns and sieging fortresses. Even in the raids and sieges, knights played a minimal part in the attack. As a child, boys who had a future in knighthood were trained from a very young age by older knights. They trained for 7 years as a page, then 7 years as a squire. When they reached the proper age, they were dubbed as a knight in a special ceremony.
The armor that knights wore was the one thing that set them apart from the rest of the army. However, it was very expensive, and most of the armor that knights wore was stolen or taken from a raid. So the term “Knight in Shining Armor” is not really correct. In terms of weapons, swords are always the knights top choice in the media. Yet in real life, knights often used battle axes, maces, daggers, two-handed swords, and/or lances; more aggressive methods of fighting. Basicly, knights became known in our culture for the beginning idea and purpose of knights: to fight and protect people. But what fairy tales did not cover was how knights usually acted, which was not as noble as the overall purpose for them. In all, our fairy tales’ simple-minded story of the life and personality of most knights was over-exaggerated and untrue.
Final Analysis: Myth Busted!
Serfs: By Lupita N
Many many years ago people made a myth about serfs. The myth was that serfs were plain regular workers, but I'm here to bust the myth!! Years ago people made the myth that serfs were regular workers, but people didn’t realize what they really were and how they were actually treated. Serfs were people that were treated like slaves and worked for lords. Serfs were treated like slaves because they weren’t allowed to leave. They had to start work very early in the morning and leave really late. In addition, they would also work longer during the summer.
Serfs had many different tasks, including : sowing, plowing, binding, and hay making. Serfs had to do a lot of farm working. Serfs also almost always had to do their own tools, as the lords wouldn’t give it to them. Usually the children of serfs had to work too because they didn’t really have money. A serfs clothing was simple, it wasn’t fancy at all. Life being a serf wasn’t easy. So in reality, serfs were treated like slaves. Serfs were treated like slaves because they couldn’t leave whenever they wanted.
Final Analysis: Myth busted!
Many many years ago people made a myth about serfs. The myth was that serfs were plain regular workers, but I'm here to bust the myth!! Years ago people made the myth that serfs were regular workers, but people didn’t realize what they really were and how they were actually treated. Serfs were people that were treated like slaves and worked for lords. Serfs were treated like slaves because they weren’t allowed to leave. They had to start work very early in the morning and leave really late. In addition, they would also work longer during the summer.
Serfs had many different tasks, including : sowing, plowing, binding, and hay making. Serfs had to do a lot of farm working. Serfs also almost always had to do their own tools, as the lords wouldn’t give it to them. Usually the children of serfs had to work too because they didn’t really have money. A serfs clothing was simple, it wasn’t fancy at all. Life being a serf wasn’t easy. So in reality, serfs were treated like slaves. Serfs were treated like slaves because they couldn’t leave whenever they wanted.
Final Analysis: Myth busted!
Medieval Castles By Zoe C
Castles...one of the building blocks of medieval society. In the middle ages, castles housed a lord or monarch, and their servants, knights, soldiers, and family members. There purpose was to defend the people inside and provide a home. Because of that, they were expensive to build and maintain, and the more money and power that owners had, the more large their castles were. The origin of castles
started around the 9th century, and the complexity of castles designs grew and grew over time. At first castles were simple, with tall walls, and they used defense mechanisms such as building a motte, or an artificial mound, to present a challenge to attackers. By the 11th century, two centuries after the original beginning of castles, the number of castles in Europe had increased rapidly, and castle designs were more intricate than the original ones. They came up with new methods such as stone-built, earth, and timber castles.
The more adjustments in castle design meant better protection for the people it housed. Inside castles, lords ruled over all the inhabitants, even their family. When a lord was absent, a noblewoman would often take control and occasionally lead defenses. Castles were very powerful structures, and were very hard to destroy. Castles sieges used machines like trebuchets, which they loaded with heavy stones and hurled at castle walls to break them down.
Castles typically had a moat, with a drawbridge to get across. There was usually a courtyard, a central tower(where the lord and his family lived during war), a great hall (where the lord and his family lived in times of peace), the armory, the chapel, the kitchens, and the stables. Often times castles were a great defense against enemies, and less strong of a home. Rooms tended to be small, with little furniture, only a fire for heat, bad ventilation, and only narrow windows for light. However, towards the end of the middle ages, when life became more luxurious, castles began to become more comfortable. Lords could have wider windows, sometimes with glass panes, walls were hung with thick tapestries, and floors could be covered with oriental rugs.
Castles typically had a moat, with a drawbridge to get across. There was usually a courtyard, a central tower (where the lord and his family lived during war), a great hall (where the lord and his family lived in times of peace), the armory, the chapel, the kitchens, and the stables. Often times castles were a great defense against enemies, and less strong of a home. Rooms tended to be small, with little furniture, only a fire for heat, bad ventilation, and only narrow windows for light. However, towards the end of the middle ages, when life became more luxurious, castles began to become more comfortable. Lords could have wider windows, sometimes with glass panes, walls were hung with thick tapestries, and floors could be covered with oriental rugs.
Castles...one of the building blocks of medieval society. In the middle ages, castles housed a lord or monarch, and their servants, knights, soldiers, and family members. There purpose was to defend the people inside and provide a home. Because of that, they were expensive to build and maintain, and the more money and power that owners had, the more large their castles were. The origin of castles
started around the 9th century, and the complexity of castles designs grew and grew over time. At first castles were simple, with tall walls, and they used defense mechanisms such as building a motte, or an artificial mound, to present a challenge to attackers. By the 11th century, two centuries after the original beginning of castles, the number of castles in Europe had increased rapidly, and castle designs were more intricate than the original ones. They came up with new methods such as stone-built, earth, and timber castles.
The more adjustments in castle design meant better protection for the people it housed. Inside castles, lords ruled over all the inhabitants, even their family. When a lord was absent, a noblewoman would often take control and occasionally lead defenses. Castles were very powerful structures, and were very hard to destroy. Castles sieges used machines like trebuchets, which they loaded with heavy stones and hurled at castle walls to break them down.
Castles typically had a moat, with a drawbridge to get across. There was usually a courtyard, a central tower(where the lord and his family lived during war), a great hall (where the lord and his family lived in times of peace), the armory, the chapel, the kitchens, and the stables. Often times castles were a great defense against enemies, and less strong of a home. Rooms tended to be small, with little furniture, only a fire for heat, bad ventilation, and only narrow windows for light. However, towards the end of the middle ages, when life became more luxurious, castles began to become more comfortable. Lords could have wider windows, sometimes with glass panes, walls were hung with thick tapestries, and floors could be covered with oriental rugs.
Castles typically had a moat, with a drawbridge to get across. There was usually a courtyard, a central tower (where the lord and his family lived during war), a great hall (where the lord and his family lived in times of peace), the armory, the chapel, the kitchens, and the stables. Often times castles were a great defense against enemies, and less strong of a home. Rooms tended to be small, with little furniture, only a fire for heat, bad ventilation, and only narrow windows for light. However, towards the end of the middle ages, when life became more luxurious, castles began to become more comfortable. Lords could have wider windows, sometimes with glass panes, walls were hung with thick tapestries, and floors could be covered with oriental rugs.
Life in Towns: By Lupita N
Many years ago people would say that life in towns
were great but that wasn't true it wasn't true because life in towns was hard.
Life in towns was hard. It was hard because there wasn't so many upgrades like:
electricity, water,and warm water.
Many years ago people would say that life in towns
were great but that wasn't true it wasn't true because life in towns was hard.
Life in towns was hard. It was hard because there wasn't so many upgrades like:
electricity, water,and warm water.
Medieval Laws, Crimes, and Common Punishments By Esmee S
Nowadays, movies and stories have created an idea or “image” of what laws and consequences were for medieval times. That “fairytale” version is much less harsh and cruel than what punishments were really like. In movies, punishments were being thrown in jail for a day or two or even escaping custody, but in reality, you would more likely lose a finger, and laws were taken to the extreme. As the feudal
system started to decline, more courts were being set up. Trials then are much different than they are today, in fact, the accused must prove himself not-guilty. One form of trial, was by Ordeal. Ordeal was a test by which the accused had an option to confess or go through extremely painful situations. Another form of trial was called “The Judicial Duel.” This type of trial was were the accused and the accuser fought and it was believed that God would give victory to the innocent. A much more common punishment was paying a fine.
There were a lot of laws when it came to feudalism. Feudalism was a system of local government and local justice. Lords and Nobles had complete jurisdiction of everyone and everything on their land. Although the only person that could veto the Lords or Nobles was the King, the king did not have all power. Infact, there was even a documents created to make sure that the king had to share power with the parliament. This document was called the Magna Carta. The Magna Carta consisted of 37 English laws. It consisted of laws that were copied, recollected, old laws, and new laws. This document was drafted by Archbishop Stephen Langton and was signed by King John on June 15, 1215. The Magna Carta was originally called “The Articles.”
Nowadays, movies and stories have created an idea or “image” of what laws and consequences were for medieval times. That “fairytale” version is much less harsh and cruel than what punishments were really like. In movies, punishments were being thrown in jail for a day or two or even escaping custody, but in reality, you would more likely lose a finger, and laws were taken to the extreme. As the feudal
system started to decline, more courts were being set up. Trials then are much different than they are today, in fact, the accused must prove himself not-guilty. One form of trial, was by Ordeal. Ordeal was a test by which the accused had an option to confess or go through extremely painful situations. Another form of trial was called “The Judicial Duel.” This type of trial was were the accused and the accuser fought and it was believed that God would give victory to the innocent. A much more common punishment was paying a fine.
There were a lot of laws when it came to feudalism. Feudalism was a system of local government and local justice. Lords and Nobles had complete jurisdiction of everyone and everything on their land. Although the only person that could veto the Lords or Nobles was the King, the king did not have all power. Infact, there was even a documents created to make sure that the king had to share power with the parliament. This document was called the Magna Carta. The Magna Carta consisted of 37 English laws. It consisted of laws that were copied, recollected, old laws, and new laws. This document was drafted by Archbishop Stephen Langton and was signed by King John on June 15, 1215. The Magna Carta was originally called “The Articles.”
Medieval Customs and Rites By Alex R
Many movies put the image of death, marriage, and birth as being beautiful like “Tangled” by Disney when Rapunzel and Flynn Rider get married and they have a grand ceremony. But in reality, it was much different. The birth would happen at the house of the mother. The only people allowed at the place of birth would be female relatives and friends and of course the medical provider. Sometimes birth would be dangerous for the mother and child. They believed that in order for the child to go to heaven is to baptize them.
At death only the monks and paupers were allowed to be at the funeral. First the pauper would wrap the body. Next they would put a draped coffin over the body and the monks and paupers would then pray over the coffin before they got buried. When someone got married the church prohibited marriages between people who shared a great-great-grandfather. In Order for a man to get married is if his family supported him. The wedding/joining of two people would be followed by big celebrations. After two people joined/married they could not be divorced or separated from each other.
Many movies put the image of death, marriage, and birth as being beautiful like “Tangled” by Disney when Rapunzel and Flynn Rider get married and they have a grand ceremony. But in reality, it was much different. The birth would happen at the house of the mother. The only people allowed at the place of birth would be female relatives and friends and of course the medical provider. Sometimes birth would be dangerous for the mother and child. They believed that in order for the child to go to heaven is to baptize them.
At death only the monks and paupers were allowed to be at the funeral. First the pauper would wrap the body. Next they would put a draped coffin over the body and the monks and paupers would then pray over the coffin before they got buried. When someone got married the church prohibited marriages between people who shared a great-great-grandfather. In Order for a man to get married is if his family supported him. The wedding/joining of two people would be followed by big celebrations. After two people joined/married they could not be divorced or separated from each other.