The Middle Ages – Crossword puzzle

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 Middle Ages
Daily Life
History >> Middle Ages for Kids

Costumes of the Middle Ages by Albert Kretschmer

Life in the Country

The majority of people living during the Middle Ages lived in the country and worked
as farmers. Usually there was a local lord who lived in a large house called a manor
or a castle. Local peasants would work the land for the lord. The peasants were
called the lord's "villeins", which was like a servant.

The peasants worked hard all year long. They grew crops such as barley, wheat, and
oats. They also had gardens where they grew vegetables and fruits. They also
sometimes had a few animals such as chickens for eggs and cows for milk.

Life in the City

City life was very different from country life, but it wasn't much easier. The cities were
crowded and dirty. A lot of people worked as craftsmen and were members of a guild.
Young boys would serve as apprentices for seven years learning a craft. Other jobs
in the city included servants, merchants, bakers, doctors, and lawyers.

What were their homes like?

Although we often think of pictures of large castles when we think of the Middle Ages,
most people lived in small one or two room homes. These homes were very crowded
and usually everyone slept in the same room. In the country, the family animals, such
as a cow, may also live inside the home. The home was usually dark, smoky from the
fire, and uncomfortable.

What did they wear?

Most peasants wore plain clothing made from heavy wool to keep them warm during
the winter. The wealthy, however, wore much nicer clothes made from fine wool,
velvet, and even silk. Men generally wore a tunic, woolen stockings, breeches, and a
cloak. Women wore a long skirt called a kirtle, an apron, woolen stockings, and a
cloak.

In order to separate the nobles from the peasants, laws were passed called
"sumptuary" laws. These laws stated who could wear what types of clothes and what
materials they could use.

What did they eat?

Peasants during the Middle Ages did not have a lot of variety in their food. They
mostly ate bread and stew. The stew would have beans, dried peas, cabbage, and
other vegetables sometimes flavored with a bit of meat or bones. Other foods like
meat, cheese, and eggs were usually saved for special occasions. Since they didn't
have a way to keep their meat cold, they would eat it fresh. Leftover meat was
smoked or salted to preserve it. The nobles ate a wider variety of food including
meats and sweet puddings.

Did they go to school?

Very few people attended school in the Middle Ages. Most peasants learned their job
and how to survive from their parents. Some children learned a craft through
apprenticeship and the guild system. Wealthy children often learned through tutors.
They would go to live in the castle of another lord where they would work for the lord,
learning about how a large manor was run.

There were some schools run by the church. Here students would learn to read and
write Latin. The first universities also began during the Middle Ages. University
students would study a wide range of subjects including reading, writing, logic, math,
music, astronomy, and public speaking.

Interesting Facts about Daily Life in the Middle Ages

 The bread eaten by people of the Middle Ages was gritty from the millstones
used to grind the grain. This caused the people's teeth to wear down quickly.
 Peasants were not allowed to hunt on the lord's land. Punishment for killing a
deer was sometimes death.
 Medicine was very primitive at the time. Sometimes doctors would "bleed"
people by putting leeches on their skin.
 People mostly drank ale or wine. The water was bad and would make them
sick.
 Marriages were often arranged, especially for nobles. Noble girls often married
at 12 years old and boys at 14.
 Art and Literature
Manuscript from the Middle Ages
Bernhard von Clairvaux by Unknown

History >> Middle Ages

Art during the Middle Ages was different based on the location in Europe as well as the
period of time. However, in general, Middle Age art can be divided up into three main periods
and styles: Byzantine Art, Romanesque Art, and Gothic Art. Much of the art in Europe during
the Middle Ages was religious art with Catholic subjects and themes. The different types of
art included painting, sculpture, metal work, engraving, stained glass windows, and
manuscripts.

The end of the Middle Ages is often signaled by a great change in art with the start of the
Renaissance Period.

Byzantine Art

The start of the Middle Ages is often called the Dark Ages. This is the period of time from 500
to 1000 AD. The main form of art during that time was Byzantine art produced by artists from
the Eastern Roman Empire, also called Byzantium.

Byzantine art was characterized by its lack of realism. The artists did not try to make their
paintings realistic, but focused on the symbolism of their art. Paintings were flat with no
shadows and the subjects were generally very serious and somber. The subjects of the
paintings were almost entirely religious with many paintings being of Christ and the Virgin
Mary.

Rochefoucauld Grail by Unknown

Romanesque Art

The period of Romanesque Art started around 1000 AD and lasted to around 1300 with the
beginning of the Gothic Art period. Art prior to that is called pre-Romanesque. Romanesque
art was influenced by both the Romans and Byzantine Art. Its focus was on religion and
Christianity. It included architectural details like stained glass art, large murals on walls and
domed ceilings, and carvings on buildings and columns. It also included illuminated
manuscript art and sculpture.

Gothic Art

Gothic art grew out of Romanesque art. Gothic artists began to use brighter colors,
dimensions and perspective, and moved toward more realism. They also began to use more
shadows and light in their art and tried out new subject matters beyond just religion including
animals in mythic scenes.

Artists of the Middle Ages

Many of the artists from the early Middle Ages are unknown to us. Some of the most famous
lived during the latter part of the Middle Ages and are often considered to be part of the
beginning of the Renaissance. Here are a few artists that made a name for themselves at the
end of the Middle Ages:

 Donatello - An Italian sculptor known for his statues of David, Mary Magdalene, and
the Madonna.
 Giotto - Italian artist from the 13th century famous for his frescos in the Scrovegni
Chapel in Padua, Italy.
 Benvenuto di Giuseppe - Also called Cimabue, this Italian artist from Florence was
known for his paintings and mosaics.
 Ambrogio Lorenzetti - An Italian painter of the Gothic movement, he is famous for
his frescoes, the Allegory of Good Government and the Allegory of Bad Government.

Literature

The majority of the literature produced during the Middle Ages was written by religious clerics
and monks. Few other people knew how to read and write. Much of what they wrote was
hymns, or songs, about God. Some also wrote philosophical documents about religion. One
of the most popular books of the Middle Ages was the Golden Legend, by archbishop of
Genoa Jacobus de Voragine. It told stories about the lives of the Saints during Medieval
times. Some secular, meaning non-religious, books were written as well.
 Catholic Church and Cathedrals
History >> Middle Ages for Kids

Christianity and the Catholic Church played a major role in Europe during the Middle Ages.
The local church was the center of town life. People attended weekly ceremonies. They were
married, confirmed, and buried at the church. The church even confirmed kings on their
throne giving them the divine right to rule.

Wells Cathedral by Adrian Pingstone

Rich and Powerful

The Catholic Church became very rich and powerful during the Middle Ages. People gave
the church 1/10th of their earnings in tithes. They also paid the church for various
sacraments such as baptism, marriage, and communion. People also paid penances to the
church. The wealthy often gave the church land.

Eventually, the church owned about one third of the land in Western Europe. Because the
church was considered independent, they did not have to pay the king any tax for their land.
Leaders of the church became rich and powerful. Many nobles became leaders such as
abbots or bishops in the church.

Structure of the Church

The leader of the Catholic Church was the pope. Right below the pope were powerful men
called cardinals. Next were bishops and abbots. Even bishops held a lot of power on the
local level and often served on the council of the king.

Cathedrals

Many churches were built during the Middle Ages. The biggest of these churches were called
cathedrals. Cathedrals were where bishops had their headquarters.

Cathedrals were built to inspire awe. They were the most expensive and beautiful buildings
built. Sometimes construction on a cathedral could take two hundred years to finish.

Most cathedrals were built in a similar fashion. They generally were laid out in the shape of a
cross. They had very tall walls and high ceilings.

Layout of a cathedral in the shape of a cross by Unknown

Gothic Architecture

Around the 12th century, cathedrals began to be built with a new style of architecture called
Gothic architecture. With this style, the weight of the vaulted ceilings rested on buttresses
rather than on the walls. This way the walls could be thinner and taller. It also allowed for tall
windows on the walls.

Art

Some of the great art of the Middle Ages was produced in cathedrals. This included stained
glass windows, sculpture, architecture, and painted murals.

Other Religions

Although Christianity dominated Europe during the Middle Ages, there were other religions.
These included pagan religions such as the Viking worship of the god Thor. Other religious
groups included the Muslims, which ruled much of Spain for many years, and the Jews,
which lived throughout many cities in Europe. The Jews played a significant role in the
economy because they were allowed to loan money and charge interest.

Interesting Facts about the Catholic Church and Cathedrals

 Conversion of a country generally took place from the king down. Once the king was
converted to Christianity, his nobles and people followed suit.
 Some master masons were able to work on a single cathedral for their entire life.
 Cathedrals and churches were often used for meeting places when a large location
was needed.
 Catholic Bishops often sat on the king's council.
 Churches provided education and looked after the poor and the sick.
  The main body of a cathedral is called the "nave", the ends of the cross section are
called the "transepts", and the entrance is called the "narthex".

Entertainment and Games

History >> Middle Ages for Kids

When we think of Medieval times and the Dark Ages we sometimes picture overcast days,
damp castles, slaving peasants, and dungeons. However, the people in the Middle Ages
loved parties, events, feasts, games, and sports. Just like us, they liked to have a good time.

Fairs, Festivals, and Feasts

People in the Middle Ages didn't have vacation or days off, but they did have lots of festivals
which they celebrated by taking the day off. They would have fairs, carnivals, and feasts to
celebrate these days. Most of these days were special days on the Christian calendar such
as Easter, Christmas, and various Saint's days.

Troubadours by Unknown

On these days the local villagers would gather together and throw a big party. There would
be lots of eating, drinking, music, games, and dancing. Many of the traditions they celebrated
would come from their local cultures and were different throughout Europe.

Hunting

The favorite sporting event for the nobility was hunting. Several nobles may gather together
for a hunt on the local baron's land. They would ride horses while their trained dogs would
hunt down the prey. Even noblewomen liked to hunt. They would use trained birds of prey,
like hawks, when hunting.

Music

There was a wide variety of music during the Middle Ages. Many towns had a band that
played on feast days. They used a number of different instruments including pipes, drums,
fiddles, harps, bagpipes, and even something called a hurdy-gurdy.
Troubadours

One of the most popular forms of entertainment was the troubadour. Troubadours were men
who traveled from town to town singing and playing music that told romantic stories about
knights and heroes. Many troubadours became quite famous and performed before kings
and queens.

Games

People of the Middle Ages enjoyed a variety of games. One popular game among the nobility
was chess. Chess came to Europe from Persia in the 9th century. Other games included
gambling with dice, blind man's bluff, checkers, horse races, and playing cards.

Sports

There were many athletic events at festivals and other occasions. These included archery,
jousting, hammer-throwing, and wrestling. In some areas they played early versions of
football (soccer), cricket, bowling, or golf.

Interesting Facts about Entertainment during the Middle Ages

 Monks often sung in Medieval churches. They would chant in a single key without any
instruments. This type of singing was called plainsong.
 Sometimes a troubadour would have an assistant called a jongleur. The jongleur
would often add in acrobatics and juggling to the show.
 Some of the most popular stories told were about King Arthur and the Knights of the
Round Table.
 People who dressed up and disguised themselves at festivals were called mummers.
 The medieval version of football was called gameball. There were no rules other than
there were two teams, two goals, and one ball.
 May Day was a festival day to celebrate the arrival of summer. People would dance
around maypoles and light huge bonfires. Some towns would crown one girl the
Queen of the May.

The Black Death Plague

History >> Middle Ages

The Black Death is the name for a terrible disease that spread throughout Europe
from 1347 to 1350. There was no cure for the disease and it was highly contagious.

How did it start?

The plague likely started in Asia and traveled westward along the Silk Road. The
disease was carried by fleas that lived on rats. Historians think that black rats living
on European merchant ships caught the disease, eventually bringing it to Europe.
 The Triumph of Death by Pieter Brueghel the Elder

How bad was it?

It's hard to imagine how scary life was in the Middle Ages during the Black Death. By
the time the disease ran its course, it had killed at least one third of the people in
Europe and probably more. In Paris, France it's estimated that around 800 people
died a day. There were so many dead that they couldn't bury them. They had to carry
them to massive pits.

Unfortunately, the people in the Middle Ages didn't know that the disease was carried
by rats. This made larger cities and towns, which were very dirty during the Middle
Ages, especially dangerous as there were lots of rats there. Sometimes entire towns
or villages were wiped out by the plague.

What did the people do?

As you might expect, there was panic. Many people were sure it was the end of the
world. People locked their doors and tried to hide in their houses. However, this did
little good in cities where rats, and therefore fleas, were everywhere. They also
burned down houses and even entire villages to try and stop the disease.

The Bubonic Plague

Today we call this disease the bubonic plague. Very few people get the disease
today and most of those that do recover fine. When people got the disease in the
Middle Ages, they almost always died. People would get really sick including black
and blue blotches all over their body.

Rebuilding After the Black Death

Much of the infrastructure of Europe was gone when the Black Death finally
subsided. It's estimated that it took around 150 years for Europe to rebuild.
 The Crusades

Siege of Tyre by Jean Colombe

History >> Islamic Empire >> Middle Ages for Kids

The Crusades were a series of wars during the Middle Ages where the Christians of Europe
tried to retake control of Jerusalem and the Holy Land from the Muslims.

Why did they want to control Jerusalem?

Jerusalem was important to a number of religions during the Middle Ages. It was important to
Jewish people as it was the site of the original temple to God built by King Solomon. It was
important to the Muslims because it is where they believe Muhammad ascended to heaven.
It was important to Christians as it is where they believe Christ was crucified and rose again.

Who fought in the Crusades?

The Crusades were between the armies of Europe, mostly the Holy Roman Empire, and the
Arabs that had control of Jerusalem. In the first Crusade Europe battled the Seljuk Turks.

There were around 30,000 soldiers from Europe in the first Crusade, they were made up of
Knights, peasants, and other commoners. Some saw the army as a way to get rich and try
out their fighting skills, while others saw it as a way into heaven.

How they got started

The initial Crusade began when the Seljuk Turks took control of the Holy Land. Prior to this,
the Arabs had been in control of the land. However, the Arabs had allowed Christians to
pilgrimage and visit the city of Jerusalem. In 1070, when the Turks took control, they began
to refuse Christian pilgrims into the area.

Byzantine Emperor Alexius I called for help from the Pope with defending his empire from the
Turks and to help push them out of the Holy Land. The Pope helped to gather an army,
primarily with the help of the Franks and the Holy Roman Empire.