Middle Ages Research Project

Sara Lopez 

Encounters 6

Ms. Damante

April 8, 2022

The Eventful Middle Ages

Introduction

Have you ever wondered why some people are so interested in the Middle Ages? Or ever wanted to learn more by yourself? If you are interested in fashion, keep reading and learning more about medieval fashion. If you are not here to read about fashion, you may want to learn about the old government they used to have established. If you are not interested in the two topics that were just discussed, then you might be interested in warriors and timelines that contain the art of war, if you are, you could keep reading and learn about a great British king's name that has rung through your ears, but you seem not to know why. If you are interested in some of these topics, you could keep reading and find out the answers to some of the questions you have been asking yourself.

Feudalism

In the Middle Ages, there was a popular type of government called the Feudal System. At the top of the feudal system were kings and queens; below them were the nobles. After, they were the knights and lords. Finally, the serfs were the ones who held the least power. 

The lords ruled under the king and were the rulers of villages and towns that contained surfs. They lived in houses called manors (Ross). When they were born, they were born into the class or group they were born into. The smurfs also could not own any property in the village or town they lived in (Ross). They ate cheese, black bread, porridge, and some vegetables that they grew or harvested during the time (Ross). They worked in small villages or towns, growing and harvesting crops in return for the Lord's protection (Ross). Not only that, but the serfs had to ask the Lord to do mostly everything of importance (Ross).

That also included marriage (Ross). Can you believe having to ask for someone's permission besides your parents to marry the love of your life? Some women often had the authority to marry a man from a different cast (Ross). Nevertheless, that was it they could do besides becoming a mother to children or working in the village.

Back in the day, one of the most populated cast was the peasants or serfs. One of the casts with fewer people was the rulers of the land, also known as kings and queens. To become a knight, you needed to be knighted by a king, queen, or Lord.

King Arthur

King Arthur is a popular character in legends and kids' stories. He is known for pulling Excalibur from the stone (Editors). He is also known as a legendary British king (Editors). Who went to war in the Middle Ages that fought for Great Britain. In some of the most popular or common legends, myths, or kids' stories, he was married to Guinevere (Editors). Some say he led British armies in the 6th century to war (Editors). They also say he was considered a heroic person by some people (Editors).

In some kids' stories, legends, and myths, he was born in Tintagel, Cornwall (Editors). His parents were King Uther Pendragon and Igraine Pendragon (Alchin). Altho, they say that Igraine Pendragon had affairs with a knight known as Lancelot (Alchin).

Some stories discuss how he became king, and two of the most discussed reasons for becoming king are, the sword Excalibur (Alchin). One of the discussed stories is that he became king by pulling the sword, Excalibur, from the stone that led him to become king (Alchin). On the other hand, the other story tells of a strange and magical woman near a lake giving him the sword (Alchin). 

King Arthur and some other knights were part of the round table in the middle ages (Editors). During the battle of Canlahann, King Arthur's last battle, he died (Alchin). Since then, King Arthur has been honored by many people who consider him honorable, loyal, honest, valiant, brave, and chivalrous (Alchin). He was a king and knight who followed the code of chivalry and became well known because of the stories, myths, and legends that live on in his name (Alchin).

Medieval Fashion

During the Middle Ages, male and female clothes looked very similar (Clothing). Everyone used to wear leather shoes (Clothes). Instead of one piece of clothing, the woman's clothes had different parts and layers, just like the men's clothes. Some parts were called bodice, sleeves, kirtle, and outer garments like capes (Clothing & Clothes). The men also wore different layers and parts of clothing: doublets, sleeves, hoses, hats, cloaks, and gowns (Clothing & Clothes). 

As time passed, the top half of the groups started wearing more fashionable clothes (Clothes), like oversized dresses with more silky fabric and many more layers. Women also would have the fabrics dyed in different colors to show patterns (Clothes). As for men's clothing, it had more layers of clothing to symbolize how wealthy they were (Clothes).

Heraldry was a popular class used in the Middle Ages to teach the study of different types of armor and how heavy they were supposed to be (Clothes). That class also focused on each kingdom's colors and flags (Clothes). They also used to be different flags or a group of shapes that formed a picture, image, or symbol that showed what kingdom, family, or class you were in to differentiate you from everyone else.

The females in affluent towns or villages also used to wear different types of accessories called jewelry. Unfortunately, they were only accessible to a wealthy woman because of the price they were sold at in affluent towns or villages. They came up with the name jewelry because it has the root word 'jewel.' Jewelry was made of heavy or light metals and was decided by the welder what metal it should be made of. Not only was the jewelry made of metal, but sometimes some specific words could be forged onto the pieces, or gemstones could be provided by the customer or welder engraved into the metal.

Conclusion 

During the Middle Ages, a lot happened, and this barely made a dent. The Middle Ages was a significant time in history for some people because it might lead back to their heritage or was just an essential time in their lives, whether that contains the history of Feudalism, King Arthurs's reign, or medieval fashion. Something that happened during the Middle Ages that were not recorded could have led to present events. Some people might not even recall hearing about it, but it was an important historical event either way. 

Works Cited 

Alchin, Linda. ”King Arthur.” Lords and Ladies. www.lordsandladies.org/king-arthur.ht Accessed 7 

February 2022.

”Clothes.” MYSTERY IN THE MIDDLE AGES. www.xtec.cat/monografics/cirel/02/middle_ages/alumne/ 

/punt2/index. htm. Accessed 17 February 2022

”Clothing of Time.” Teacher Created Materials, ink. 1994. Teacher Created Materials 1994 PDF. 

Accessed 17 February 2022.

The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. ”King Arthur Legendary King of Britain.” Britannica. www.b 

ritannica.com/topic/King-Arthur. Accessed 7 February 2022.

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

Accessed 7 February 2022.

Ross, David. ”Middle Ages Feudal System.” Britain Express. www.britainexpress.com/History/Feudalis 

m_and_Medieval_life.htm. Accessed 7 February 2022.