Middle Ages Research Project

                   My Research Paper

Destiny Albarran

Encounters 6

Ms. Damante

March 24, 2022

The Life of the Medieval Times.

Introduction

The Medieval lifestyle is distinguished in many ways. It contains different topics such as The Feudal System, The New York Carvers and Medieval life. In The Medieval Times every man was required to learn how to use a weapon. Also The New York Carvers started the ¨ghost under the sheets¨ trend that is very popular during halloween. It also started many diseases, plagues and many more.

Feudalism

The social structure of the Middle Ages was organized around the system of Feudalism¨ (Feudalism…) Feudalism was a Feudal System that was based on the government and society in Europe during the Middle Ages. The Feudal System was created to divide the rich and poor. The social structure of the Middle Ages was organized around the system of Feudalism. Feudalism in practice meant that the country was not governed by the king but by individuals.  Lords or barons who administered their own estates, dispensed their own justice, minted their own money, levied taxes and tolls, and demanded military service from vassals. Vassals were used to help the lord at court, help administer justice, and contribute money if needed, just like a lawyer.

In the early Medieval Period the center of life in castles and manors was the great hall, a huge, multipurpose chamber safely built upon the second floor. ¨Manors, not villages, were the economic and social units of life in the early Middle Ages.¨(Feudalism…) These halls were dimly lit, due to the need for massive walls with small windows for defense from attack. The lord owned the land and everything in it. He would keep the peasants safe in return for their service. The lord, in return, would provide the king with soldiers or taxes.

Villages are usually rough huts on dirt floors with no chimneys or windows. The huts hold up to ten to sixty families. Usually one end of the hut was given over to keeping livestock, such as cows and goats. Some furniture in huts are usually  three-legged stools, a trestle table, beds on the floor softened with straw or leaves. Although not technically a slave, a serf was bound to a lord for life. He could own no property and needed the lord's permission to marry. Under no circumstance could a serf leave the land without the lord's permission unless he chose to run away. If he ran to a town and managed to stay there for a year and a day, he was a free man.

The New York Carvers

The New York carvers was a christian tradition that began in the early Middle Ages although the holiday’s roots were traced back to pagan practice. The celebration would be on November first and that day was ruled as the Celtic New Years which is when dead souls were believed to walk on earth.¨People would leave out Soul Cakes and lanterns for good spirits.¨(New…) And now they are the modern version and Halloween pumpkins, which are to ward off any evil spirits that would pierce a thin veil of the underworld during the time of the year.

In honor of the saintes they named November first All Hallows Day which means the day of the holy ones. However, two centuries later, the Church followed the Samhain festival more closely by naming November second All Souls Day in honor of the dead. ¨This was particularly important after Purgatory was implemented, as people could help the dead be released from purgation. Purgatorial prayers are also the reason we have jack o’ lanterns.¨People would have rituals which included dancing, feasting and bonfires. These actions would connect the living and those who have passed. Some benefits from bonfires are they protect and have cleansing powers but they involve multiple rituals.

Some would dress up in disguise and would go door to door mostly saying verses in exchange for food. Also some people would do midnight pranks, but in Samhain it was called ¨Mischief Night¨. Ireland is known for having a strong tradition of guising and pranking. There were mainly pranks that were Irish and Scottish because they immigrated from the Atlantic into North america. That is why Ireland is known for having a strong tradition of guising and pranking. In parts of southern Ireland a ¨white mare¨ was a man who covered himself in a white sheet and carried a decorated horse skull and would go from farm to farm saying verses, again in exchange of food.

Medieval Life and Times

The Medieval Period was a time during 1066 -1485. It was a lifestyle that many people followed. Medieval life in Europe was quite interesting. Europe in the Medieval Time is where the Feudal System was most dominating. The jobs and occupations dictated the quality of life during the Medieval times of the Middle Ages in Europe. The daily life and times of a lord, a king, a knight, a noblewoman, a peasant, a peasant woman, a monk, a nun and a serf woman is quite interesting . These are the ranks of a Medieval Pyramid, and this also affected how people were treated.
There were many things to entertain people in the Medieval Times. Such as music, dancing and art. The music during the Medieval Period was musical instruments. Art was restricted to only Pietistic paintings. Which is a religious Christian art style. There were no portrait paintings. And no bright colors, only mutual. Also in the Medieval Period, every man was expected to know how to use a weapon.

The Medieval Times ended in 1453 because of the failure of the Feudalism System. Many were killed because of this failed experience. ¨From birth to death, whether you were a peasant, a serf, a noble lord or a King - life was dominated by the church and Medieval religion. In Europe during the Medieval times the only recognized religion was Christianity, in the form of the Catholic religion.¨(Medieval…)

Conclusion 

The medieval ages were acclaimed in many ways but they also had some rough patches in between such as the black death that killed many. There were also weapons that people were ¨forced¨ to learn how to use. They would use swords, axes and knives.

Works Cited 

“Middle Ages Feudal System.” Ducksters. www.ducksters.com/history/middle_ages_feudal _system.php  

Accessed 22 February 2023. 

Ross, David. “Feudalism and Medieval Life.” Britain Express. www.britainexpress.com 

/History/Feudalism_and_Medieval_life.htm Accessed 7 February 2023.

“Halloween in the Middle Ages.” New York Carvers. newyorkcarver.com/halloween.htm. Accessed 30 

January 2023.

“Was halloween celebrated in the middle ages?” Medieval Britain. medievalbritain.com/type/medieval 

-life/activities/halloween-middle-ages-celebrations/\. Accessed 31 January 2023. 

“Medieval Life and times.” Medieval Life and Times. www.medieval-life-and-times.info/. Accessed 31 

January 2023.

“Medieval Life and Times.” Medieval Life and Times. www.medieval-life-and-times.info/. Accessed 31 

January 2023.