During the Middle Ages in Europe, feudalism was the dominant economic system. Land was granted by kings to nobles in exchange for loyalty and military service. Nobles provided knights to fight for their rulers. Knights trained extensively in combat skills and wore heavy armor into battle. Castles, often made of stone, served as fortresses and homes for wealthy lords. Clothing indicated social class, with rich people wearing colorful, elaborate robes and poor people wearing plain, durable clothes. Diet also varied by class, as rich people consumed white bread, meats, fruits and spices while poor people mostly ate dark bread, vegetables and small amounts of meat or fish.

1. LIFESTYLE IN MIDDLE AGES
Feudal System (economy)
The Middle Ages was the bridge between the Dark Ages and Renaissance. In the times
before the middle ages, a country was settled by small tribes with different war leaders
trying to defend the tribe’s land. But things changed; during Middle Ages rulers (kings)
began to see the land as belonging to them, not to the tribe; so, they would give land to
noble people in return for loyalty. The more land the noble had, the more important, and
the less land,the less important. The economic systemof the medieval times is calledfeudal
system. The peasants farmed the land for the Lord, and they were his servants.
Knights
Lords and other important people had to fightfor
their rulers = king or queen. They also had to
provide knights to fight, and knights were given
land by their lords and were expected to fight
when necessary. Knights were warriors who
wore heavy metal armors, held long spears
called lances when they were on horseback. If
they came off their horses, they fought with
swords. This needed a lot of training because the
armor was heavy. There were some tournaments
/ competitions that allowed knights to show off
their skills.

2. Castles
The first castles of Middle Ages were
wooden forts on top of a steep mound, to
keep soldiers safe in enemy territory.
Sometimes these castles were battered
down or seton fire. From 1100 and on, there
were more castles builtof stone. Around the
castle there was a deep ditch filled with
water.
These castles usually had a drawbridge to allow the entrance of people in the castle (it is a
movable bridge, like a bridge-door). In order to get inside the drawbridge had to be open.
Of course, if there were attacks the drawbridge had to be raised (up). Castles usually had
towers, which were useful for guarding. The towers allowed soldiers to throw things down
to the enemies; sometimes they dropped hot
oil. Inside were the homes of wealthy lords
who used the castles to show their power. The
castle gave them defense and comfort.
Another important construction of the
medieval times is the CHURCH. Most of these
buildings have a gothic style.
Clothes
As in all human civilizations, clothes were very important because they showed a person’s
wealth and importance in two ways:
- Rich people wore long robes with flowing sleeves (mangas flotantes), shoes with long and
pointed ends. They used expensive fabrics in bright colors. Of course they did not need to
work; these clothes would have been very uncomfortable for working. In some countries
there were laws about who could wear certain colors, fabrics and furs.
- Ordinary people wore plain clothes that were easy to work and did not show dirt stains.

3. Food
What people ate in the Middle Ages depended on the money and properties they had. The
rich ate white bread, pork, beef, lamb, chicken, duck, goose, deer, fruit, vegetables,and fish
on special religious days. Their food was flavored with sugar and spices. They drank wine
and used bread plates.
Middle class people ate the same, but more ordinary and less expensive food. Their food
was prepared more simply. They used honey instead of sugar and less spice.
Poor people ate vegetables, cheese, dark bread and very little meat. Sometimes they ate a
piece of bacon or the chicken that did not lay eggs. They hunted and ate wild animals like
rabbits, etc. They grew their own vegetables and sometimes raised one or two pigs for
meat.The very poor had to beg for food. Christian people were told to care for the poor
because God wanted so. Many times the rich gave leftover food or bread plates.
Curious note: they did not eat potatoes or corn becausethese plants were not from Europe,
they were American plants and America had not been discovered yet.
Bibliography
History opens windows: The Middle Ages , Jane Shuter (1999), Heinemann Library editorials, ISBN 157572489-8
Art in history:Art of the Middle Ages, Jennifer Olmsted (2001), Heinemann Library editorials, ISBN 140344019-0