Skip to main content
Like
Create new Glog
previous
next
Email share
220 views | 0 likes | 0 reposts
Feudalism #2
Seth Revolinski Evan Broom Period 2
Religion: Monasteries in the Middle Ages were based on the rules set down by St. Benedict in the sixth century. The Monks took vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience to their leaders. They had to perform manual labor and were forbidden to own property, leave the monastery, or become entangled in the concerns of country issues. Daily tasks were done without a single word spoken. Monks prayed eight times a day at the Monestary Church. The female counterpart to a Monk is called a Nun. They follow the same basic rules as a Monk and pledge their whole lives to worship the lord.
Clothing: Most people in the Middle Ages wore woolen clothing, with undergarments made of linen. Brighter colors, better materials were signs of great wealth. The clothing of the aristocracy and wealthy merchants tended to be elaborate and changed according to the dictates of fashion. Towards the end of the Middle Ages, men of the wealthy classes sported hose and a jacket, often with pleating or skirting, or a tunic with a surcoat. Women wore flowing gowns and elaborate headwear, ranging from headdresses shaped like hearts or butterflies to tall steeple caps and Italian turbans. Most of the holy orders wore long woolen habits in emulation of Roman clothing. One could tell the order by the color of the habit: the Benedictines wore black; the Cistercians, undyed wool or white. St. Benedict stated that a monk's clothes should be plain but comfortable.
Feudal Life: For safety and for defense, people in the Middle Ages formed small communities around a central lord or master. Most people lived on a manor, which consisted of the castle, the church, the village, and the surrounding farm land. These manors were isolated, with occasional visits from peddlers, pilgrims on their way to the Crusades, or soldiers from other fiefdoms. In this feudal system, the king awarded land grants or fiefs to his most important nobles, his barons, and his bishops, in return for their contribution of soldiers for the king's armies. At the lowest echelon of society were the peasants, also called serfs or villeins. In exchange for living and working on his land, known as the demesne, the lord offered his peasants protection.
Food: The food of the Middle Ages was very different from the food of today. During the Middle Ages in North Europe, the mainly used cattle and sheep for food. In South Europe, they also had fruits, vegetables, and herbs for food. They used olive oil rather than butter. A banquet was sometimes made up of 6 courses. It provided food for everyone, not just the rich and famous. Rules were laid down for how people ate, their table manners and where they sat. They used spoons and knifes for eating. They also used trenchers, which were things like plates except they were pieces of hard bread that would soak up the blood and liquids from the chicken, turkey and other meats. A banquet was made up of many things Food was preserved in a number of ways. One way was that, meats and fishes were smoked or dried. Another way of preserving was that fruits and vegetables were pickled. Meat for the winter was salted in huge wooden vats. Sometimes meat and fruit were stored together in barrels. The warmest place in the kitchen was the blazing hearth. A hearth was a huge fireplace. Food was often disguised with spices to hide the taste of rotten meat! The kitchen was a very lively place.
