Life During the Middle Life During the Middle AgesAges
October 10, 2005October 10, 2005
A Little HistoryA Little History
The Dark Ages or Medieval The Dark Ages or Medieval TimesTimes
Covered almost 1,000 years of Covered almost 1,000 years of Western EuropeWestern Europe
History clouded by myth & History clouded by myth & legendslegends
Ruled by hundreds of Ruled by hundreds of Feudal Lords & KingsFeudal Lords & Kings
A Little HistoryA Little History
Cities were surrounded by walls Cities were surrounded by walls and homes were often castlesand homes were often castles
There were many wars, battles & There were many wars, battles & fights among people, cities, etc.fights among people, cities, etc.
Weapons included swords, axes, Weapons included swords, axes, longbows, crossbows, stones and longbows, crossbows, stones and daggers daggers
Cities & castles were Cities & castles were often looted after battleoften looted after battle
A Little HistoryA Little History
People from this era -- knights, People from this era -- knights, soldiers, peasants & pilgrimssoldiers, peasants & pilgrims
Goods gathered during battle Goods gathered during battle were often traded and soldwere often traded and sold
Merchants brought silks, cotton, Merchants brought silks, cotton, spices from around the world spices from around the world but also brought Black Deathbut also brought Black Death
LifestyleLifestyle People spent time working the People spent time working the
land to grow food for survivalland to grow food for survival Social activities were important – Social activities were important –
fairs, merchants selling goods, fairs, merchants selling goods, games in the local tavern, games in the local tavern, tournaments, weddingstournaments, weddings
People were superstitious but People were superstitious but merchants brought back merchants brought back medical & human body medical & human body knowledgeknowledge
Medieval Business & Medieval Business & CommerceCommerce
Cities were paved with stone Cities were paved with stone roads, & were filled with buildings, roads, & were filled with buildings, churches & marketplaceschurches & marketplaces
Little room for orchards, fields, Little room for orchards, fields, and grazingand grazing
Animal traffic made roads Animal traffic made roads unsanitaryunsanitary
Water supplies limitedWater supplies limited
Medieval Business & Medieval Business & CommerceCommerce
Market was held 1 x a week in Market was held 1 x a week in the town squarethe town square
Merchants trade also included Merchants trade also included protection treatiesprotection treaties
Fairs would attract foreign Fairs would attract foreign merchants – last merchants – last several daysseveral days
Holidays & CelebrationsHolidays & Celebrations
Celebrations revolved around Celebrations revolved around feast days or planting & feast days or planting & harvesting of cropsharvesting of crops
November -- blood month -- feed November -- blood month -- feed was scarce; meat was smoked, was scarce; meat was smoked, salted & cured for wintersalted & cured for winter
From Christmas to 12From Christmas to 12thth day of day of January – vacation, feastsJanuary – vacation, feasts
Plow Monday -- racesPlow Monday -- races
Medieval Food – Manor HouseMedieval Food – Manor House
Fowl – geese, chicken, larks, Fowl – geese, chicken, larks, capons, beef, bacon, lamb capons, beef, bacon, lamb
Near water – salmon, herring, Near water – salmon, herring, eels and fresh water fish – salted, eels and fresh water fish – salted, smoked or fresh smoked or fresh
Milled flour & meals from grainMilled flour & meals from grain Dairy products – cheese & milkDairy products – cheese & milk
Medieval Food – Manor HouseMedieval Food – Manor House
Lacked fruits and vegetablesLacked fruits and vegetables Since a variety of foods were Since a variety of foods were
not available year-round, not available year-round, Diet lacked nutrients – A, B, C, Diet lacked nutrients – A, B, C,
D, and E vitamins and some D, and E vitamins and some mineralsminerals
Medieval Food -- PeasantsMedieval Food -- Peasants Barley & rye breads wheat went to Barley & rye breads wheat went to
the marketthe market Drank ale made from barley & water Drank ale made from barley & water
– flavored with honey– flavored with honey Cabbage, onions, garlic, nuts, Cabbage, onions, garlic, nuts,
berries, leeks, spinach, parsley were berries, leeks, spinach, parsley were used to make soupused to make soup
Raw vegetables were Raw vegetables were thought to be unhealthythought to be unhealthy
Little protein – maybe Little protein – maybe peas & beanspeas & beans
Medieval Foods -- PeasantsMedieval Foods -- Peasants
Lacked protein, B vitamins, Lacked protein, B vitamins, vitamins A, C, and D and not vitamins A, C, and D and not high in calorieshigh in calories
Ale often made up the calorie Ale often made up the calorie difference difference
Diets were also low in Diets were also low in fat & high in fiberfat & high in fiber
Hunger was constantHunger was constant
Medieval DiseasesMedieval Diseases
Rough wool next to skin caused Rough wool next to skin caused skin diseasesskin diseases
Lack of fruits, vegetables & Lack of fruits, vegetables & protein – scurvy, intestinal tract protein – scurvy, intestinal tract disordersdisorders
Winter – pneumoniaWinter – pneumonia Improper sanitation Improper sanitation
– typhoid fever– typhoid fever
Medieval DiseasesMedieval Diseases
Mental illness – injuries during Mental illness – injuries during birthbirth
Leprosy – most feared until the Leprosy – most feared until the Black Death – leper colonies Black Death – leper colonies were everywherewere everywhere
In France – 11In France – 11thth – 13 – 13thth centuries over 2,000 centuries over 2,000 leprosy coloniesleprosy colonies
Medieval -- FaminesMedieval -- Famines Lack of food was a constant fearLack of food was a constant fear Never had enough surplus to Never had enough surplus to
develop storage systemsdevelop storage systems By 1300s adequate supplies By 1300s adequate supplies
grown under best conditionsgrown under best conditions Climate grew cooler Climate grew cooler
and wetter & earlier and wetter & earlier stormsstorms
1315-1317 decimated 1315-1317 decimated cropscrops
Medieval FaminesMedieval Famines
Hoarding preceded faminesHoarding preceded famines Black markets for food sold wellBlack markets for food sold well Elderly stopped eating so Elderly stopped eating so
younger one could surviveyounger one could survive Grimm’s Fairy Tale – Hansel Grimm’s Fairy Tale – Hansel
and Gretel – may have been and Gretel – may have been born out of the born out of the reality of these reality of these faminesfamines
Medieval -- FaminesMedieval -- Famines
People killed their animals and People killed their animals and ate seed grain for foodate seed grain for food
Dogs & cats disappearedDogs & cats disappeared Rumors of cannibalismRumors of cannibalism Black Death eliminated more Black Death eliminated more
peoplepeople Created enough Created enough
food for survivorsfood for survivors
Medieval – Black DeathMedieval – Black Death
1347-1351 -- total nightmare – a time 1347-1351 -- total nightmare – a time of horrorof horror
Every 4Every 4thth person would die in three person would die in three years or ¼ of the people would dieyears or ¼ of the people would die
Black Death brought to Western Black Death brought to Western Europe along trading routes Europe along trading routes – exact location unknown– exact location unknown
Cities were worse – narrow Cities were worse – narrow streets, close homes – streets, close homes – transmitted diseasestransmitted diseases
Medieval – Black DeathMedieval – Black Death
Transmitted by rats and fleasTransmitted by rats and fleas In larger cities, half the people In larger cities, half the people
died; some up to 90% dieddied; some up to 90% died Disease attacked lymph, Disease attacked lymph,
respiratory and circulatory respiratory and circulatory systems – fatal pneumonia systems – fatal pneumonia
Almost 100% of Almost 100% of infected people infected people dieddied
Medieval – Black DeathMedieval – Black Death
Rhyme: Rhyme:
Ring around the rosie,Ring around the rosie,
A pocketful of posie,A pocketful of posie,
Ashes, Ashes, Ashes, Ashes,
All fall down.All fall down.
Medieval – Black DeathMedieval – Black DeathTrying to avoid disease included: Trying to avoid disease included: Drinking fine wineDrinking fine wine Eating the best of meatsEating the best of meats Filling the mind with thought other Filling the mind with thought other
than deaththan death Medical treatment – valerian root, Medical treatment – valerian root,
moonwort, arsenic, brimstonemoonwort, arsenic, brimstone Opium given as Opium given as
anestheticanesthetic Blood-lettingBlood-letting
Medieval vs. TodayMedieval vs. Today
Protein – Protein – poultry, poultry, seafood, beef, seafood, beef, porkpork
Poor ate beans Poor ate beans but not but not combined with combined with grainsgrains
Protein – Protein – seafood, seafood, poultry, beef, poultry, beef, pork, milk, dairy pork, milk, dairy products, soy, products, soy, combined combined grains & beans. grains & beans. Manufactured Manufactured proteinsproteins
Medieval vs. TodayMedieval vs. Today
Starchy FoodsStarchy Foods Wheat, barley, Wheat, barley,
rye, oats, bread, rye, oats, bread, porridge porridge
Starchy FoodsStarchy Foods Wheat, barley, Wheat, barley,
rye, oats, rye, oats, bread, cereal, bread, cereal, rice, pasta, rice, pasta, cakes, cookies, cakes, cookies, pastriespastries
Medieval vs. TodayMedieval vs. Today
Fruits/VegetablesFruits/Vegetables Low availabilityLow availability Low food intakeLow food intake
Fruits/VegetablesFruits/Vegetables Available but Available but
often not often not purchasedpurchased
Low food intakeLow food intake
Medieval vs. TodayMedieval vs. Today
FatsFats Peasants -- Peasants --
very low – very low – animal animal sources, sources, some dairysome dairy
Lords/Kings – Lords/Kings – very high, very high, meat, cheese meat, cheese intakeintake
Fats Fats High – High –
animal fat, animal fat, oil, fried oil, fried foods, dairy, foods, dairy, cheese, cheese, trans fatty trans fatty acids, acids, processed processed foodsfoods
Medieval vs. TodayMedieval vs. Today
FluidFluid MeadMead Beer/AleBeer/Ale WineWine Water w/ Water w/
honey - poor honey - poor sanitationsanitation
FluidFluid MilkMilk Coffee/TeaCoffee/Tea SodasSodas JuiceJuice WaterWater Sports drinksSports drinks AlcoholAlcohol
Medieval vs. TodayMedieval vs. Today
ResultsResults Poor nutritional Poor nutritional
statusstatus Faced Faced
communicable communicable diseasesdiseases
Low chronic Low chronic diseasedisease
This combination This combination resulted in resulted in deathsdeaths
ResultsResults Poor nutritional Poor nutritional
statusstatus Very few Very few
communicable communicable diseases but bird diseases but bird flu a threatflu a threat
High chronic High chronic diseasedisease
This combination This combination is projected to is projected to result in deathsresult in deaths
Middle Ages vs. TodayMiddle Ages vs. Today
We love our habits more We love our habits more than our income, often than our income, often
more than our life.more than our life. ~ Bertrand Russell~ Bertrand Russell
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