Medieval Life Flashcards
(11 cards)
Medeval Cities and Towns
In 1066, only of the population 5% lived in towns. After 1066, some towns grew where major roads met or near a bridge on a river. Others grew around the new castles and monasteries that were founded by Norman invaders. In the 1300s 10% of the people lived in towns, including new cites like Leeds, Liverpool, and Hull. Even the biggest cites were small by today’s standards London had 80,000 inhabitants by the 13th century.
Advantages of living in a town
- Transport people could purchase a special document called “Chaters” which gave theme rights e.g. to have carts or to run a market without paying tax. They could even let a major council collect taxes improving the town.
- Towns had markets for buying and selling goods. Outsiders who wanted to sell goods had to pay tax.
Law and Order
Hue and cry, Trial By Combat, Trial By Ordeal and Trial by Oath
Hue and cry
- People who saw a crime being committed were obliged to alert their neighbours to help, stop, chase and hopefully catch a criminal.
- This was called Hue and Cry
Trial By Combat
- This was used when there were no witnesses or no confessions in and despite between two people
- A public fight was arranged. The winner would be the winner of the dispute.
Trial By Ordeal
- Defendants were given a painful test to see if they were guilty.
- If they survived/healed they were not guilty
- Examples: Holding a burning coal, swallowing poison, being dunked in a river.
Trial by Oath
- The accused had to swore on the Bible that they were not guilty
- They then got as many people as you can to support you
- The people had to swear that this was true
The Black Death
The Black Death killed millions of people in Europe and Asia from 1346-53
* We know that it was a combination of 2 different plagues struck that the same time
* Bubonic Plague: came from rat’s blood and was spread by fleas
* Pneumonic Plague: Spread by coughs and sneezes
Woman in the Middle Ages
- Their primary responsibility was to support their husband and children
- 90% of woman lived in rural areas, where they contributed in farmwork
- Marriage of the elite were usually political. People would use sisters, daughters to gain land and allies.
Many famous women include Empress Matilda: a woman with royal heritage fighting for the throne against King Stephen. Hildegard of Bingen: a nun from Germany who wrote many famous books. Joan of Arc: a woman fighting in the 100 years war for France. Eleanor of Aquitaine: a woman who became the queen of France and England.
Religion in Medieval England
- In Medeval England almost everyone was a Christian a Roman Catholic
- This meant they believed the pope was appointed by God the head of Church
- They also believed that Heavan and Hell were also places as well as France and Denmark
- Region was used to explain everything from bad harvest to spread of disease
- The church was the biggest building in the village and the priest was highly respected
What happened in a Church: Baptising, Funerals, Wedding, News, Prey, Meeting Place and fairs/ special events.
Roles as a priest
Has to learn and speak Latin which is the language of the bible
* He would tell the villagers if they went to Heaven and Hell
* He was part of loads of people’s lives and deaths
