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Interesting facts about medieval!

Interesting facts about medieval!

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Jun 29, 2017, 14:0706/29/17
04/26/17
65

Interesting facts about medieval!

Found and decide to share with you some interesting facts!

1) Pigs could be a real danger

In medieval times, pigs were kept as meat animals, often in a type of extensive husbandry that included foraging in forests and on common grounds. People thus had much more contact with live pigs than we do today – this could be dangerous, and even deadly.

There were multiple accounts of pigs eating children. From the 13th century, lawsuits could in theory be filed against the porcine perpetrators – this usually resulted in a death sentence for the pig. Such lawsuits were rare in England but were more common in France, especially in the region around Paris.

 


2) The Middle Ages were not drab and grey

There was an appreciation of colour in the medieval period very similar to modern enjoyment of bright and colourful things. From garments to jewellery, and stained glass windows to painted walls in both secular houses and churches, colourful decoration was everywhere.

While many wall paintings have been lost and most textiles have faded or turned brown in the soil (if they survived at all), illuminations in medieval manuscripts still give us a glimpse of the many colours of life in medieval times.

 


3) The English were multilingual

The medieval English did not only speak English – they used French, Latin and Hebrew, as well as other languages. People employed different languages in different situations: the language of religion was Latin and Hebrew, but for law it was French. When it came to insulting people, however, this could be done in any language.

4) People did bathe

Hygiene was considered a sign that you were civilised, and cleanliness meant bathing. Most major towns boasted public baths, as did many private houses. Bathtubs were made using similar techniques to those used to craft wine barrels.

One might also be advised on medical grounds to bathe – for example, if you had kidney stones.


5) People knew the world was round

The round Earth was described both scientifically and philosophically, and people knew about the Antipodes (the antipodes of any place on Earth is the point on the Earth's surface that is diametrically opposite to it). However, as today, a minority believed devoutly in a flat Earth.

6) Not everyone was Christian, or white

There were Jews and Muslims in medieval Europe, and there were also practitioners of other religions, such as Paganism. The percentage of followers of each religion in each region varied according to history and culture. Paganism was for a long time common in the north, for instance, and Islam in the Iberian peninsula.

Race wasn’t defined according to modern terms, so ‘white’ and ‘black’ were far less important than one’s religion: a black bishop from north Africa was considered more civilised and of far higher rank than a white slave from eastern Europe, for example. People were more likely to be discriminated against according to religion than skin colour, with Cathars, Jews and known heretics among those who suffered greatly.

7) Piped water was not unknown

Clean water was important in the medieval period – for hygiene, for food preparation, and for drinking. Establishing a water supply, especially in the cities, was not always easy, though. London was famous for its conduit – a series of cisterns to supply water to its people: the water itself was piped in from outside London.

Some castles also had pipe systems for their water supplies. Dover Castle, for example, used lead pipes to move water from its well through the building. 



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Comments
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Comments
Jun 30, 2017, 11:2206/30/17
05/02/17
183

nice article, mate. 

yep, this medieval wasn't a simple times 

Jul 17, 2017, 12:5207/17/17
Jul 21, 2017, 08:46(edited)
2

Thank you for the sharing good knowledge and information its very helpful and understanding..

Jul 21, 2017, 08:4607/21/17
05/04/17
138
I like it!
Jul 21, 2017, 08:4707/21/17
05/04/17
138

Do you plan to write more about medieval?

Aug 7, 2017, 08:0708/07/17
04/27/17
78

Good interesting facts. Thanks!

Aug 11, 2017, 07:1908/11/17
77

Your_Darkness_Queen said:


Do you plan to write more about medieval?

Yep, It would be great!

Aug 18, 2017, 07:4608/18/17
05/11/17
96

I like fact about pigs

Aug 18, 2017, 12:2408/18/17
05/04/17
138

Phil Morte said:


I like fact about pigs

lt sounds a little creepy

Aug 18, 2017, 12:2508/18/17
05/04/17
138

Your_Darkness_Queen said:


Phil Morte said:


I like fact about pigs

lt sounds a little creepy

I mean the fact about pigs, not your comment 

Aug 21, 2017, 07:0308/21/17
05/11/17
96

Your_Darkness_Queen said:


Your_Darkness_Queen said:


Phil Morte said:


I like fact about pigs

lt sounds a little creepy

I mean the fact about pigs, not your comment 

LOL!

Aug 25, 2017, 09:0908/25/17
05/02/17
183

lol. I have a strange question, guys. Would somebody want to come to be at the medieval?

Aug 25, 2017, 09:1408/25/17
05/02/17
183

what about me, I would like. But if it would be safely. but medieval and safely it's incompatible 

Aug 28, 2017, 07:5308/28/17
77

Kris Teilor said:


lol. I have a strange question, guys. Would somebody want to come to be at the medieval?

I wouldn't like it. You can be destroyed by everything. And what about hygiene? No, it is not for me.


Aug 28, 2017, 07:5708/28/17
04/27/17
78

Vandal said:


Kris Teilor said:


lol. I have a strange question, guys. Would somebody want to come to be at the medieval?

I wouldn't like it. You can be destroyed by everything. And what about hygiene? No, it is not for me.


U are dweeb, man!


Aug 29, 2017, 11:4708/29/17
05/04/17
138

I'm not sure about this. Of course, be a medieval queen it seems so romantic...

Aug 30, 2017, 06:4908/30/17
77

Your_Darkness_Queen said:


I'm not sure about this. Of course, be a medieval queen it seems so romantic...

And what about medieval maidservant or peasant? You must die for your landlord.

Aug 30, 2017, 12:4408/30/17
05/04/17
138

Vandal said:


And what about medieval maidservant or peasant? You must die for your landlord.

oh... no. Wouldn't like to be a medieval maidservant or peasant absolutely! Only a queen or a noblesse woman.

Aug 30, 2017, 14:0908/30/17
98

While it's true all people from that time died, some of them (most, even) died  "normally" and not for someone. So you don't HAVE to die for your liege.


Yes, war and disease is normal.

It's not like we are living in a world without disease or warfare.

Nor will anyone.

Aug 31, 2017, 07:1908/31/17
77

Test said:


While it's true all people from that time died, some of them (most, even) died  "normally" and not for someone. So you don't HAVE to die for your liege.


Yes, war and disease is normal.

It's not like we are living in a world without disease or warfare.

Nor will anyone.

Human life didn't have value. Do you remember fires of the Inquisition? No one could be safe.

Aug 31, 2017, 12:4108/31/17
98

Vandal said:


Human life didn't have value. Do you remember fires of the Inquisition? No one could be safe.

Do you remember Syria? Sudan? Islamic State Iraq [wa] Shams? Iran? Saudi Arabia (look up on google how nicely they burn with hot metal their "domestic maidservants")?

The homeless man 3 blocks from downtown New York dying (the one you didn't hear about)?


I'm sure you've heard of Harvey's coastal voyage all the time lately... Did you hear half (a tenth? a tenth of a percent?) as much about the floods in India&Nepal?

Plenty more fatalities there, I assure you that.


If you think human life has value everywhere today... you've got a huge bubble to burst.