Where did the majority of people live in Europe during the Middle Ages?
In rural villages
What did your type of life depend upon in a Medieval village?
Your class and role in society.
Which population group made up the majority of the population in a village?
Peasants were in the majority.
True or False? All medieval villages had the same structure.
False, they took on many different forms.
What was a serf?
It was a peasant who was legally bound to the land - Couldn't be bought/sold. The lowest class.
What did the serfs have to do in exchange for living on the land?
They owed fealty to their lord, they paid rent and worked the land.
Which crops were commonly grown?
Barley, wheat and rye.
What other uses did they have for the land?
Grazing for animals, woodland for hunting and fuel.
True or False? Daily life was easy and fun for serfs.
False, it was difficult, backbreaking and a struggle for survival.
What did serfs have for food?
They ate pottage ( peas, beans, porridge ), they had milk, butter and cheese and they seldom had meat.
What did the seasons dictate?
They dictated what type of work they did : harvesting in summer and slaughtering animals in autumn.
True or False? Peasants had lots of festive holidays.
True, they had saints' days and other religious holidays.
What other professions were there in the lower classes?
Stewards, bailiffs, trade workers ( millers, bakers, blacksmiths ) and priests.
Why was a medieval village considered self-sufficient?
They made their own clothes ( leather, wool ), they grew their own food with tools from their blacksmith, they had their own grain milled and baked into bread.
What caused a drastic reduction in the population?
The Bubonic Plague caused the deaths of approx. 200 million people.
What happened to the population?
1. There were changes in social structure. 2. The population was smaller. 3. There was a decrease in agricultural production. 4. There were uprisings and rev
