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[ 7th–8th Centuries – Church and monasteries preserve literacy, law, classical knowledge.
768 – Charlemagne ascends Frankish throne, campaigns unify Western Europe.
800 – Charlemagne crowned Emperor of the Romans by Pope Leo III.]
Western People – Peasantry During the Medieval Age
Hygiene & Health
Health throughout history has always been a concern. Many growing towns suffered unsanitary conditions due to the lack of a proper sewage system, or a way to manage the waterways, but people were aware of the importance of water and sanitation.
It took centuries to really bring the topic to a collective consciousness. See the book and documentary Silent Spring, by Rachael Carson. Through the 1960s, many people in the US were still tossing their trash in the streets and parks, dumping chemical waste into the waterways, and up until the late 19th century many people would throw their human waste in the gutter.
Bidet
However, there were flushable toilets, but they were few and far between. Those that had them had a water flush system and that pushed the waste into a cistern where the cistern would be used later as fertilization in fields, thrown into rivers, or simply buried. The toilet, a.k.a., water-closet, was invented in Great Britain during the 1500s. This was mostly enjoyed by those with status and wealth. On a larger scale, and to rid the growing cities of illness, the modern flushable toilet today was invented in the 1860s by a fellow named, Thomas Crapper. By the 1900s, indoor toilets quickly became the standard fare in building. Regardless, crowded areas were often unbearable to live in. Mass sanitation was one of the many hallmark accomplishments in Western Civilization.
Sadly, there still lies a common misconception that Medieval people, mostly the peasantry, were always dirty and paid little attention to personal hygiene. Of course, lice and other parasites, along with plagues, and body odor from hard work helped to create this misconception. They did not have access to the vast surplus of water we have today, but they were well aware of the difference between being clean and not clean. They clearly understood that the importance of cleanliness was next to Godliness. The Germans took this to a new level in the 1700s, (see the Enlightenment). If you pay attention to the geography of a city, you will notice most towns and villages were built near a source of water. In rural areas, wells were always dug first, and cities near large bodies of water used the old Roman system of lead pipes.
To Wash
A topic most often presented in Medieval art and literature was bathing. It was an important and basic part of life. All ages and incomes understood the Basic Hygiene troubles in the Middle Ages. Whether a jug basin, tub or trough was used to soak.
In wealthy homes, they had wooden bath tubs. The peasantry washed their faces and hands every day, upon waking and especially before meals, since most people ate with their hands.
In rural areas, our people would bathe in ponds, springs, or lakes. Due to the laborious sweaty and hands-on dirty work, most people would bathe daily.
In towns there were public bath-houses, both men and women would bathe together – this often led to a number of problems and troubles. Later, during the Victorian Era, bath-houses separated males and females.
Many bathhouses were connected to factories which allowed the water to be heated or pipes used to carry hot running water in the facilities.
In wealthy homes, wooden bathtubs which were filled with hot water in a great iron pot boiling on the iron stove. This is where the Saturday-Night bath began. Great labor was taken in order to be fresh for Sunday, the Lord’s Day.
Soap
At the PEACH we make Medieval soap with recipes that date back to the 9th century. An outline history and process is taught as part of the Practical Arts Club.
There are a number of soap-making recipes used in this class from oak ash, tallow, lime, egg whites, salt, and even flour. The soaps are scented using fresh herbs: rosemary. sage. and thyme.
In the Middle Ages bar soap was also used to wash your hair, liquid shampoo didn’t pop up until the early 1900s
Our people brushed their hair and used a wooden comb, not only for cosmetic reasons, fine-toothed combs were used as a delousing implement, specifically designed to remove lice from the hair.
They brushed their teeth using hazel twigs or linen cloth. They would also mix salt, cloves, and other herbs to clean teeth and freshen their breath.
Underwear
Chamois
Laundry
Herbs as Remedies
Cleaners & Astringents
Soapwort
Water and Alcohol
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Feudal Nobility
Feudal Nobility Ranks
Knight/Dame → Landed military servant (small fief)
Baron/Baroness → Multiple knights, direct vassal to higher lords
Viscount/Viscountess → Administrative overseer (less common in England)
Count/Earl (Countess) → Ruled a county/shire; major players
Marquess/Marchioness → Border lord (march = frontier); created later in England (e.g., first in 1385)
Duke/Duchess → Controlled multiple earls/counts; highest non-royal rank
Prince/Princess → Often royal family or sovereign ruler of a principality (not always in the strict feudal ladder)
King/Queen → Sovereign of the kingdom
Emperor/Empress → Ruler of multiple kingdoms, Save England
Pope – The Pope is considered the ultimate representative of God on earth holding privileges and duties in the matters of spiritual importance and the official doctrines of the Church. The Pope appointed cardinals who were consulted by kings about the affairs of the state. From the Middle Ages through the nineteenth century, the papacy held direct temporal power in the Papal States, and many titles of papal nobility were derived from fiefs with territorial privileges attached. During this time, the Pope also bestowed ancient civic titles on patrician.
The Holy Trinity – Christian doctrine concerning the nature of God, which defines one God existing in three coeternal, consubstantial divine persons: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, three distinct persons sharing one essence, substance and nature.
English Nobility
England used Earl instead of Count.
Dukes were rare until Edward III started creating them in the 1330s (e.g., his sons: Black Prince as Duke of Cornwall, Lionel of Antwerp as Duke of Clarence, John of Gaunt as Duke of Lancaster).
Marquess title wasn’t introduced in England until Richard II in 1385.
Under Henry VIII 1529 the King is the head of the Church of England by divine right.
Anglo-Saxon Earls
Duchy of Bohemia, 500AD – 1300AD
Charlemagne – King of the Franks, Father Of Europe 700AD
The Normans. 800AD – 1300AD, – From 1 to 3.
Book of Kells, 900AB
Great Schism 800-1000
Medieval Guilds and Taxonomy
The Norman Conquest, 1066 – Godwinson
“Domine Libera Nos!” “Lord Deliver Us!”
This was the cry of those living up, down and throughout the Western European Cost. “Lord Deliver Us!” Indeed, but from whom?
From the Vikings. Who are the Vikings? A marauding group of northern pirates, traveling in hoards upon their ships looting, pillaging, as they made their way terrorizing, the relatively peaceful peasants going about their lives, in the isles of the now European countryside of Christendom?
Viking sleep habits
Then, one day, in the late 800s, it all came to an abrupt end. Landing with his band of maunders in the region of Normandy, France, the most feared renegade Viking, Rollo.
He hailed from the land we now call Norway. Loyal to his men, he had a mission, and wasn’t a man not to be trifled with, but one to fear with great trepidation. Indeed, “Domine Libera Nos!”
However, this last time, Rollo came to Normandy with an idea in mind. In a way he wished to retire, settle down, take-up residence in this particular region.
[tbc]
Who were the Vikings, and where did they come from?
Our Lady of Chartres –
7 Liberal Arts –
Martianus Capella –
Peter Abelard (1079 – 1142) –
Feudalism
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Wars and Progress
The Byzantine Empire and Islamic Wars. Fought between 700AD and 1000AD. By 1025, under Emperor Basil II, the Byzantine Empire reached as far east as Iran, as far north as Bulgaria, and Southern Italy controlled the entire Mediterranean Sea. Even the Northern Slavic Tribes and Christians lived peaceful, prosperous lives. Including the borders regions with Islamic tribal countries. Peace, for the most part, reigned.
Until the Seljuk Turks arrived, in the latter half of the 10th century. This tribe and other small Islamic tribes slowly chipped away at the borders and eventually the whole of The Byzantium Empire. When they captured Jerusalem, the full nature of the Crusades began.
There were Ten Crusades, including the success of the Reconquista, and the last Crusade in 1571, against a failing Ottoman Empire. Each Crusade has its own characteristics. There was much death and destruction, but there was no doubt this helped shape the European continent and culture.
The European tribes grew and united in different regions. Over time, through discoveries, weapons, and the development of ships, a uniting force was congealing. We see the effects through the greatest victory during the Reconquista.
By this time, thrones and power were established and secured, the need switched from security to resources, creating an increase in commerce. Setting off the Age of Discovery. During this change, new and exotic items and materials poured in, and in exchange trade established with far-away lands, out of the establishment of commerce, arose the Renaissance.
By the middle of the 1600s, an age of craftsmanship had transformed into refinement. Class distinction, self-education, and leisure for the nobles and courtly developed new traditions. New ideas, not always accepted, were being tested, challenges to the church and power structures, ushering in more independent thought. This all led to the Reformation, Neo-Classical and eventually, The Enlightenment.
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Living Pan-European and American Cultural and Heritage Community Center
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EMAIL: peachcommunity yahoo.com
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