Middle Ages Research Project

Emmanuel Perez

Encounters 6

Ms. Damante

March 24, 2022

Back then in the European Times 

Introduction

The brutality of medieval times in Europe was truly hateful, with countless mistakes and accidents committed during this period. From massacres to control over people, many people suffered due to the harsh nature of feudal societies. The horrors of plague and punishment were spread across the continents and many people lost their family members due to this. The terrible incidents decreased populations. In the end, medieval times in Europe proved to be harsh and terrible leaving terrible memories and mistakes that would not be able to be undone. While medieval times in  Europe were devastating and rough due to diseases and other terrible things that happened, some had good outcomes and some did not. Because during medieval times in Europe, they had harsh punishments for any crimes done, many plagues spread out during the periods, and there were lots of laws that had to be followed or there would be severe punishments and large consequences to pay. The medieval times in Europe were hard because there were lots of roles that were played, some important and some not so important. And this supports my reasoning because back in medieval times in Europe many harsh things such as these occurred and now these days are not really usual.

Feudalism

The primary government and society in Europe were based on the feudal system. The lords owned the land and everything inside it. Lords kept peasants safe in exchange for their service. This started with kings giving barons land in exchange for soldiers and peasants getting land to grow crops. The top leader was the king; he could not manage all the land so he distributed the land amongst barons who in exchange gave the kings an army. The bishop was the top church leader who managed and took care of an area called the diocese. The catholic church was the most powerful in many parts of medieval Europe which also made the bishops very powerful. feudalism in practice meant that the country was not governed by the king but by many individuals lords, or barons, who administered their own estates, minted their own currency, charged taxes and tolls, dispensed their own justice, and aggressively asked for military services from the vassals. Usually, the lords could assemble greater armies than most of the kings. In theory, the king was the chief feudal lord, but in reality, the individual lords were supreme in their own territory. The vassals were responsible for attending to the lord at his court, helping administer justice, and contributing money if needed.

The Black Death

The black death was caused by black rats which carried fleas to cities. That is how to black death got its name. This disease was spread through towns and was believed to be spread through the air. People made predictions that lousy air was being breathed in and would make people sick. Doctors made suits that looked like peacock beaks. These masks were filled with spices and plants to filter the bad air. Their gowns were coated in wax so the lousy air wouldn't stick to them. These gowns ended up saving plenty of these doctors’ lives because the fleas carried by the black rats would stick to the wax. Most of the “Doctors” were not doctors, most of them had no idea what most medication was, and they didn’t even have an education on medication. Most victims were thrown in big pits and others were put in individual graves according to scientific research on DNA.

Crime and punishment

Crime and punishment in medieval times were different from crime and punishment today. Back then the punishments for certain crimes were very harsh for example if a man committed rape, manslaughter, or robbery they would be hung up in a cage so people could witness their slow and dreadful death. Another punishment was called “Quartering” which means that if a fe/male commits a crime their head would be cut off and their corpse would be cut into 4 pieces (both hands and legs would be torn off the torso) typically their corpse would be displayed around the town. The prisons were so overcrowded that most of the prisoners would die due to how dirty prisons were therefore they would catch diseases and die before they went to court. The prisoners had to rely on their family and friends to bring them food otherwise they might starve. Medieval officials lacked the resources and money to build suitable jails and resources for prisoners, so most would be let out to beg for food. People took pity on those who were in prison. If a person guilty of a crime did not show up to court their property would be taken and it would be granted to the king or ruler of the town. Hangings and torture were often held in public and would be announced by the king's men, towns folk came from nearby villages to witness the convict get tortured and were encouraged to bring children along. Most rulers thought that if they did this it would bring fear to the people so that they would think twice before committing a crime. According to old Greek laws, it states that only slaves and poor people would be punished for any crime, then a few decades later they invented a law where free men could also be punished and sent to jail for any crime or bad action. Different types of crimes were followed by horrendous torture in medieval times.

Conclusion 

While old opportunities in Europe were trenchant and harsh on account of afflictions and different bad belongings that took place, few had good effects and few acted not. Because all the while old occasions in Europe, had grim penalties for some atrocities approved, many plagues opened all the while the period, and skilled were innumerable regulations that had expected understood or skilled hopeful harsh penalties and big results to pay. The old occasions in Europe were hard because skilled were innumerable parts that were gambled, few main and few not so main. And this supports my interpretation because back in old opportunities in Europe many severe belongings in the way that these happen and immediately presently are not literally common.

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.

“All about history” allabouthistory.org 

https://allabouthistory.org/history-of-black-death.htm  8 February 2023

“The black death of 1348 to 1350” https://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/medieval-england/black-death-1348-1350 02 9,2023

“Camelot international” https://www.camelotintl.com/village/crime.html 02 15, 2023

The Finer Times https://www.thefinertimes.com/crime-and-punishment-in-the-middle-ages 02 15, 2023