Medieval Living Conditions: Countryside

Question 1

What 5 main features did houses in the countryside have?

REMEMBER IMPACT

Answer 1

1.) Lord of manor lived in manor house
2.) peasants lived in small huts made of woven sticks and covered in mud.
3.) Animals were valuable, kept in houses at night
4.) Open fires in house, smoke through thatch roof.
5.) Windows –> small, wooden shutters.

Question 2

What were peasants’ houses made of in the countrysdide?

REMEMBER IMPACT

Answer 2

• Peasants’ houses were made of woven sticks and covered in mud.

Question 3

How would people access water in the countryside?

REMEMBER IMPACT

Answer 3

• Fresh water from springs/ wells
• Springs shared with animals (not always clean)

Question 4

What were the 3 ways waste was dealt with in the countryside?

REMEMBER IMPACT

Answer 4

1.) Midden (waste heap) in the garden
2.) Cesspits constructed near village houses
3.) Waste used as fertiliser.

Question 5

What is the percentage of people that lived in the countryside?
Key point

REMEMBER IMPACT

Answer 5

90 percent of people lived in the countryside.

Question 6

Give an exmaple of a time when bad harvest led to death.

REMEMBER IMPACT

Answer 6

The Great Famine (1315-16)

Question 6

Was waste a big probelm in Medieval countrysides?

REMEMBER IMPACT

Answer 6

No because it could be used as fertiliser.

Question 7

What 2 types of houses would you find in the Medieval countryside?

REMEMBER IMPACT

Answer 7

• One with high ceiling (mutton fell from it)
• Small huts made of woven sticks and mud.

Question 8

What was a midden?

REMEMBER IMPACT

Answer 8

• Midden was a waste heap in gardens in the countryside.