Monthly Archives: March 2013

Last will and testament

Posted on March 16, 2013 by Ruth

Like monks, people in the world began by dying legally: writing a will and making last confession. The availability of paper in the 14th century made actual written wills much more common and, at last, mandatory. Outside the monastery, dying … Continue reading →

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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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