Guide and Expedition

Let's go back to Medieval Times!

You will learn about The Middle Ages, not just by reading about it – but by VISITING it!

• Knighting Ceremony – When the Roman Empire collapsed, Europe was left without a defined political structure. To protect themselves from invaders, rich landownders recruited knights to serve in their personal armied in exchange for land. The knights promised to remain loyal to their new lords, and the lords promised to protect their newly sworn vassals. The relationships between these lords and vassals became the basis for the structure know as feudalism. In the ceremony you'll experience here, a young man is being knighted by his new lord. Besides the new knight, who else was present at this ceremony?
• Castle Siege – Warfare was a common event in the lives of medieval Europeans. Powerful nobles went to war over land, control of resources, political disputes, or even personal insults. To protect themselves and their families, nobles built sturdy castles with high, thick walls and tall towers. During times of war, defenders could stockpile supplies inside the castle and hold out for months while attackers surrounded and besiged the castle. The attackers had to wait and try to find a way to get through the castle walls. In this experience, notice what methods these attackers are using to get into the castle.
• Life in a Monastery – In the Middle Ages, a noble's oldest son typically inherited his father's lands and title. Younger sons, who stood to inherit little or nothing at all, had to look for other opportunities. Some dedicated their lives to the Church by joining moasteries, communities of religious men who choose to live apart from society. At this time, most European monasteries followed the Benedictine Rule, a strict set of guidelines designed to help monks focus their minds on spiritual matters. Although individual monks took vows of peverty, many monasteries in the Middle Ages became wealthy institutions. Some monasteries were among the largest landholders in Europe. What symbols did monks wear to show their religious devotion?
• A Medieval Feast – Welcome to the feast! Pull up a chair! Feasts like this one were common celebrations among noble families in the Middle Ages. Wealthy Europeans held elaborate banquets to celebrate events like weddings, knighting ceremonies, or religious holidays. The grandest banquets generally took place around Christmas. Medieval Christians celebrated Christmas for 2 weeks, from Christmas Even until January 6. During this time, noble lords held feasts for their families and friends, gave food and gifts to the peasants who worked on their land, and lavishly decorated their homes. What kinds of foods are people eating at this banquet?
• Medieval Towns and Cities – In the Middle Ages, towns were much smaller than those we know today. London, one of the largest cities in Europe in the 1100s, was home to only about 10,000 people. many of those people were members of a new class of Europeans who had become wealthy through business and trade. During the Middle Ages, towns became the center of many growning industries, such as the production of cloth and leather goods. At the same time, traders began transporting good throughout Europe and beyond, bringing new products and a great deal of money into many towns. Why was fire a danger in medieval towns?