The Feudal System
In
the Medieval Ages, the king owned all the land and allowed trusted nobles,
his barons and bishops, to use and govern parts or “fiefs” of
the land in exchange for service as knights. In time the system of service
was replaced by what we have today – taxes! All rights belonged to the
king, and came down to the baron, to vassals, to serfs, who owed all those
above them. This arrangement provided for safety and defense in these violent
times. A community would form around a baron and his manor, which consisted
of the castle, the church, the village, and the surrounding farmland. Manors
were self-contained, providing most necessities. Visiting markets, peddlers,
and entertainers such as jongleurs and
troubadours provided additional services.
The Magna Carta
The
king shared land and a degree of power with his barons in return for service
and an oath of loyalty. Many times he ensured this loyalty by marriage into
the baron's family or holding family members hostage. Even so, many barons
became so powerful that they became hard to control. In 1215, the English
barons united and forced King John to sign the Magna
Carta. At that time only the nobles received rights, but the Magna
Carta did limit the king's ability to tax and require a trial before punishment.
It was one of the first attempts at Democracy in England. For the first time
an English monarch, like his subjects, had to obey the law.
Peasant Life
Peasants
worked the land and produced the goods that the lord and his manor needed.
They were protected, but were heavily taxed and were required to give much
of what they harvested to the baron. According to medieval law, barons held
all rights and power of life and death over those under him. The lords, in
close association with the church, assumed the roles of judges in carrying
out the laws of the manor. Trials were rare, and even at that, it was trial
by combat or ordeal. He who won the combat was innocent. In Trial by Water,
the defendant was thrown into a body of water. If he floated, he was rejected
and guilty. If he sank, he was innocent.
Guilds and the Apprentice System
In Medieval times, school was not a common right. In many countries, free
public schools still do not exist. Education was an expensive privilege only
the rich, nobility, or religious orders could afford. Serfs could only expect
to be servants or farmers, although some rose by their inner abilities. A
young man could be apprenticed to a craftsman, who he would serve without
pay as he learned the skills of the trade. He would receive food and shelter
and could become a valued member of the family, possibly marrying into it
and advancing by inheritance. After a period of time, a skilled apprentice
became a journeyman who worked more for himself and was paid some. When ready,
he would create a well-crafted example of his work, known as a Masterpiece.
A jury of guild members would judge this masterpiece and, if worthy, would
then designated a Master. In the city of London there is record of one guild
in 1130; of 18 in 1180, and of 110 in 1422. In the time of Edward III there
were listed more than 40,000 religious and trade gilds in England alone.
The apprentice system continues today in such fields as electrician, plumber,
and construction. Instead of the Guild Hall, we have the Trade Union. Schools
and universities are now part of the education process. State boards and exams
are now part of the certification process.
Role of Women
Women did not have many rights. They were expected to stay home, serve their
family, and not involve themselves in politics. Few were given opportunity
for education. In emergencies, they would hunt for food and fight to defend
their homes and castles. Some women entered religious orders as nuns and thus
were able to participate in writing and scholarship. Notable women of this
time are Christine de Pisan, a writer; Hildegard
of Bingen, nun, scholar, and musician; and Eleanor
of Aquitaine, who supported art, music, courtliness, and went on
a crusade.
Where did it come from?
The next time you are washing your hands and complain because the water temperature isn't just how you like it, think about how things used to be. Here are some facts about the 1500s:
These are interesting...
Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May, and still smelled pretty good by June. However, they were starting to smell, so brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odor. Hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting married.
Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and men, then the women and finally the children Last of all the babies. By then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it. Hence the saying, "Don't throw the baby out with the bath water."
Houses had thatched roofs-thick straw-piled high, with no wood underneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof. When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and off the roof. Hence the saying "It's raining cats and dogs."
There was nothing to stop things from falling into the house. This posed a real problem in the bedroom where bugs and other droppings could mess up your nice clean bed. Hence, a bed with big posts and a sheet hung over the top afforded some protection. That's how canopy beds came into existence.
The floor was dirt. Only the wealthy had something other than dirt. Hence the saying "dirt poor." The wealthy had slate floors that would get slippery in the winter when wet, so they spread thresh (straw) on floor to help keep their footing. As the winter wore on, they added more thresh until when you opened the door it would all start slipping outside. A piece of wood was placed in the entranceway. Hence the saying a
"thresh hold."
(Getting quite an education, aren't you?)
In those old days, they cooked in the kitchen with a big kettle that always hung over the fire. Every day they lit the fire and added things to the pot. They ate mostly vegetables and did not get much meat. They would eat the stew for dinner, leaving leftovers in the pot to get cold overnight and then start over the next day. Sometimes stew had food in it that had been there for quite a while. Hence the rhyme, "Peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold, peas porridge in the pot nine days old."
Sometimes they could obtain pork, which made them feel quite special. When visitors came over, they would hang up their bacon to show off. It was a sign of wealth that a man could "bring home the bacon." They would cut off a little to share with guests and would all sit around and "chew the fat."
Those with money had plates made of pewter. Food with high acid content caused some of the lead to leach onto the food, causing lead poisoning death. This happened most often with tomatoes, so for the next 400 years or so, tomatoes were considered poisonous.
Bread was divided according to status. Workers got the burnt bottom of the loaf, the family got the middle, and guests got the top, or "upper crust."
Lead cups were used to drink ale or whisky. The combination would sometimes knock the imbibers out for a couple of days. Someone walking along the road would take them for dead and prepare them for burial. They were laid out on the kitchen table for a couple of days and the family would gather around and eat and drink and wait and see if they would wake up. Hence the custom of holding a "wake."
England
the coffin and up through the ground and tie it to a bell. Someone would have to sit out in the graveyard all night (the "graveyard shift") to listen for the bell; thus, someone could be "saved by the bell" or was considered a "dead ringer."
Take the Feudal System Quiz
Back to History
Go Back to Home