Category Archives: Medieval cycle of life

Care for the dying

Posted on March 16, 2013 by Ruth

When medieval people lived to old age, most of them had families who cared for them. Some lived in monastic communities, which were well-equipped to care for the aging. A wing of the monastery was always devoted to nursing care; … Continue reading →

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Medieval death

Posted on March 14, 2013 by Ruth

So many ways to die, so many choices! Life expectancy was not generally over 40 years, with so many options. Childbirth could take out two lives at once, and it often did. Infectious disease removed perhaps the largest number, including … Continue reading →

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Life-death of a leper

Posted on March 12, 2013 by Ruth

Having mapped out the most common modes of adult life in medieval Europe, I turn to a unique life cycle that serves as a bridge to talking about death: the life of a leper. Lepers were legally dead while still … Continue reading →

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Life of a minstrel

Posted on March 11, 2013 by Ruth

For a medieval minstrel, this season, Lent, was the most critical time of year. During Lent, all entertainment stopped. But far from having nothing to do, minstrels spent these weeks at giant conventions, learning new material. They were the only … Continue reading →

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Life as a craftsman

Posted on March 11, 2013 by Ruth

In the early Middle Ages, craftsmen served their most local village populations and were far less specialized than later. Smiths who worked iron tended to handle smelting and refining, and then made all of the basic iron implements like edges … Continue reading →

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Life of a university graduate

Posted on February 16, 2013 by Ruth

Life of a medieval university graduate meant, probably, continuing as a scholar in the same place. Doctoral degrees could be in theology, law or medicine. The degree cost a large sum to purchase, so many students never graduated. (They went … Continue reading →

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The peasant’s wife

Posted on February 11, 2013 by Ruth

The peasant’s wife had a pretty hard life. In addition to helping with a lot of field work as needed, she did a lot of everything else. Her most likely cause of death by accident was to fall into the … Continue reading →

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Peasant life

Posted on February 10, 2013 by Ruth

One medieval life pathway that I’ve ignored so far is that of the peasant farmer. He hasn’t entered into our stories yet because his life had so few transitions from infancy to adulthood. He didn’t go to school or get … Continue reading →

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Life of a castle lady

Posted on February 9, 2013 by Ruth

Adult life for a knight’s wife probably began in her late teen years; her husband could be anywhere from 21 to 35, depending on how soon land and affluence had come to him. Traditionally, the lady of a manor or … Continue reading →

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Life as a knight

Posted on February 9, 2013 by Ruth

Adult life as a knight divided into two typical stages. In the first, the young man was a member of another man’s household; later, he would have his own manor or castle to govern. In the first stage, he had … Continue reading →

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