Monthly Archives: January 2013

Boy knights

Posted on January 21, 2013 by Ruth

Medieval children born into land-owning (that is, aristocratic) families had a specific career future to prepare for. Until the late Middle Ages, they were less likely to go to school than their non-aristocratic age peers. In the early Middle Ages, … Continue reading →

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Children in the church

Posted on January 18, 2013 by Ruth

Medieval society kept noble children and common children strictly apart except in one place: the monastery. There, rich and poor children alike could be dedicated to God from a young age. Until the Fourth Lateran Council of 1215, children as … Continue reading →

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Learning a trade

Posted on January 16, 2013 by Ruth

Many medieval boys who learned basic reading and simple arithmetic soon left school to begin learning a trade. Entry into a trade was controlled by the local guild, forerunner of labor unions. Parents paid a significant fee to the craftsman … Continue reading →

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Children as servants

Posted on January 15, 2013 by Ruth

Medieval children who attended school were the lucky ones with stable families and upwardly mobile futures. Even boys who later became apprentices usually went to enough school to learn to read, write and do basic math; sometimes school was a … Continue reading →

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Grammar School

Posted on January 14, 2013 by Ruth

The next step of medieval school was Grammar School. Its purpose was to teach students to understand the Latin words they had learned to “read” in primary school. Grammar school was much more like a real school; when they were … Continue reading →

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Starting school

Posted on January 12, 2013 by Ruth

Age 7 marked the end of infancy in most medieval societies. A girl’s life did not change radically, since she had already been learning some of her mother’s skills. Most girls did not learn to read; it was considered a … Continue reading →

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Toys

Posted on January 10, 2013 by Ruth

Medieval babies didn’t have much special equipment beyond a cradle, but some wealthy families had something like a modern “walker” for older babies to toddle around in. There’s also some evidence for baby bonnets with extra padding, intended to cushion … Continue reading →

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Baby food

Posted on January 9, 2013 by Ruth

Medieval babies had a very bland diet. Of course, the youngest infants lived on breastmilk, but it was rare for a wealthy woman to nurse her own baby. Families who could afford to hire a wet nurse did so, and … Continue reading →

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Christening and naming

Posted on January 9, 2013 by Ruth

Baptism was called “christening” because it brought the child (or adult) formally into the Christian church, perhaps also bringing the spirit of Christ into the child’s heart. It also gave the child his official Christian name. For an infant born … Continue reading →

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Christening

Posted on January 6, 2013 by Ruth

Christening (baptizing) a baby was the important first stage of medieval life. If the baby looked sickly, it was done immediately, in case the infant died. For a healthy baby, the ceremony waited a week, but was usually done within … Continue reading →

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