by Kellea Croft

Created on: July 31, 2008   Last Updated: August 03, 2008

Peasant life in the Middle Ages

The social structure during the Middle Ages made life hard for the peasants. They were the bottom of the ladder. In feudalism a lord overseen estates, had their own laws, their own money, taxes, and military units.

The peasants were to obey the lord to whom they had sworn an oath on the Bible to uphold any desire he had. There life was hard work, but some had Sundays and religious holidays off to go to nearby fairs, markets and church. They were either free men or villeins (those who owned the Lord money).

Just as in the modern day, you can always depend on taxes to be paid. A peasant had to pay rent to the lord, tithe to the church, and tax on all produce from the farm that year. These most often kept the peasant in low standings when they hardly ever had money. Taxes could be paid in cash if they had it, but it was mainly collected with produce. Sometimes so much seed was taken they would have a hard time growing for the season.

Their homes had a wooden frame that was covered in a mixture of mud, straw and manure. The roofs were thatched. These homes were called cruck houses. They were not big, but they were pretty cheap to build and repair. There were very little furniture and straw was the only flooring. Beds were simply straw stuffed mattresses that may have just laid on the floor. Windows were just holes in the walls so that light could filter in. There was no glass, for it was too expensive. The windows and doors would only be covered by a curtain to keep out drafts.

The floor space was shared with any animal that might be owned. It was to protect them from wild animals, being stolen or wandering off. This made the environment more untidy, as they were not house trained and brought in pests.

There was no running water, toilets, sinks, etc. All the items that we just take for granted. There was not even soap or shampoo. Your toilet was most likely a bucket that would have to be emptied into the nearest river each day. The same water that you drank, bathed in and washed household goods.

Children were expected to take to the fields as soon as they were able. They mainly cleared stones off the land, chase birds away during sowing and tended the animals. Chores developed more hardships as they grew. Many did not make it to adult life.

Education consisted of learning your prayers, songs, some Latin and a little mathematics mainly conducted by the church. In France, Charlemagne realized the importance of education to survive. Every church

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