17 things you didn't know about the Middle Ages

The Middle Ages was an eventful era filled with major changes, defined by significant events such as the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the rise of Islam, the Crusades, and the Renaissance's dawn. 

While it’s true that this era saw periods of conflict and upheaval, it was also a time of profound transformation and development in society, culture, and technology that often gets overlooked. 

The goal of this article is to look closer at the Middle Ages, to explore the lesser-known aspects, to disprove some popular myths, and to shed light on some of the surprising and strange elements that you might not know. 

As we explore topics which ranged from daily life, food and drink, medicine and entertainment, to politics and religion, we will discover a Middle Ages quite different from the clichéd image often depicted. 

Contrary to popular belief, cleanliness and hygiene were not entirely abandoned during the Middle Ages. 

Though the standard of hygiene varied significantly, which depended on one's social status and the time period within the Middle Ages, evidence suggests people cared about cleanliness. 

Bathing, for instance, was not uncommon. Public baths were popular in the earlier part of the Middle Ages, particularly in urban centers. 

Soap was known and used, and practices like hand washing before meals were often encouraged. 

While it's true that the understanding of hygiene was not as detailed as it is today, it's a misconception to paint everyone from the Middle Ages as perpetually filthy. 

Medieval society was ordered but not simply divided between knights and peasants. 

The nobility did consist of kings, queens, and knights, but also included dukes, counts, and barons. 

The clergy, another significant class, ranged from humble parish priests to powerful bishops and archbishops. 

Meanwhile, the peasantry was not a single group, comprising serfs, freemen, and villeins, each with different rights and obligations. 

The middle class, or bourgeoisie, which emerged during the later Middle Ages, was made up of tradespeople, merchants, and early forms of professionals. 

Understanding this range of social classes enriches our view of life in the Middle Ages. 

When it comes to women's roles in the Middle Ages, we often think of damsels in distress, devout nuns, or malevolent witches. 

While these stereotypes did exist, they are only a fraction of the picture. Women in the Middle Ages, much like the men, lived diverse lives depending on their social status, location, and the period within the Middle Ages. 

They could run businesses, manage estates in their husbands' absence, work in the fields, or perform skilled work like brewing or midwifery. 

Some women, like Hildegard of Bingen and Julian of Norwich, made significant contributions to religious literature and thought. 

While it's true that women had fewer rights compared to men and their roles were often limited by societal norms and religious beliefs, women in the Middle Ages were far from being only passive observers in their lives. 

One common myth is that everyone in the Middle Ages consumed ale or wine because water was unsafe to drink. 

The truth is a bit more nuanced. While it's correct that ale and wine were common, water was also consumed, especially by those who couldn't afford the former. 

The notion that medieval people drank ale to avoid dirty water is partly a misconception. 

They knew about boiling water to make it safer and often had access to fresh water from springs or wells. 

The preference for ale and wine was also due to their caloric value and the ease with which they could be stored. 

The Middle Ages were a pivotal time in the spice trade, which connected Europe with Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. 

Spices like black pepper, cinnamon, and ginger were highly prized, but not just for that added flavour to food. 

They were also valued for their medicinal properties and as a means that preserved food. 

Moreover, owning and using spices was a status symbol, indicating wealth and social standing. 

Our understanding of medieval food is often limited to well-known staples like bread, meat, and cheese. However, the medieval diet was far more varied. 

People consumed a wide variety of vegetables, including cabbages, onions, and peas. 

They ate several types of fruits, both fresh and dried. They also ate other types of proteins, including fish, eggs, and legumes. 

Honey was a common sweetener, as sugar was a luxury. In some regions, foods we might find surprising were found on tables, such as peacock, beaver tail, or porpoise, which depended on availability and religious practice. 

These culinary traditions highlight the variety and adaptability of medieval diets, going outside the usual stereotypes. 

While it's true that some medieval medical practices can seem archaic and brutal from a modern perspective, the Middle Ages also saw the advancement of systematic medical thought. 

Physicians diagnosed illnesses based on the four humors theory inherited from the Greeks, believing in a balance of blood, black bile, yellow bile, and phlegm. 

Herbal remedies were common, and many herbs used then are still used in modern naturopathy. 

Additionally, surgery, though primitive by today's standards, was an established field with detailed texts providing instructions on surgical procedures, such as setting bones and treating wounds. 

Our understanding of mental health in the Middle Ages is limited, but it is clear that medieval society recognized mental illnesses, though not in the way we do today. 

Conditions we now classify as mental illnesses were often attributed to an imbalance of the four humors or to supernatural forces. 

Nonetheless, treatments could range from dietary changes and rest to music therapy and baths. 

The mentally ill were often cared for by the Church or in hospitals that offered basic care according to the standards of the time. 

From the heavy plough and the horse collar, which revolutionized agriculture, to the development of the mechanical clock, an innovation that altered perceptions of time, medieval technology had far-reaching effects. 

Innovations in architecture and engineering resulted in the construction of cathedrals that inspired awe, castles, and fortifications. 

Advances in shipbuilding and navigational tools paved the way for the Age of Exploration. 

The Middle Ages was also a time of significant progress in textile production, with the introduction of the spinning wheel and fulling mills. 

These inventions challenge the prevailing narrative of the 'Dark Ages' and highlight the era's creativity and cleverness. 

Literature flourished during the Middle Ages, with genres as varied as romance, epic, allegory, and mysticism. 

Although Latin remained the language of scholarship and the Church, vernacular literature began to thrive. 

The period gave us timeless works like Dante's Divine Comedy, Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, and the anonymous Beowulf. 

Troubadours and their German counterparts, minnesingers, contributed to the development of lyric poetry, often centered on themes of courtly love. 

These literary works reflect the many details of medieval society that captured its values, beliefs, and daily life. 

Music was an essential part of medieval life. It was present in the Church, in the courts, and among the people. 

The Middle Ages saw the development of musical notation, the rise of polyphony, and the creation of plainchant, also known as Gregorian chant. 

Non-religious music flourished as well, where troubadours and minstrels performed songs and ballads. 

Dance, too, played a significant role in medieval society. It was not just a form of entertainment but also a part of ceremonial and festive occasions. 

From line dances to circle dances, the styles differed across regions. 

Sports and games were a popular form of entertainment in the Middle Ages. 

Outdoor activities such as hunting, hawking, archery, and various ball games were enjoyed by different classes. 

For the nobility, tournaments were important occasions that showcased martial skill and courage exemplifying chivalry. 

Indoor games like chess, checkers, and backgammon gained popularity, while children played with dolls, tops, and hoops. 

These pastimes provided fun and helped people bond, offering a break from the hardships of daily life. 

Politics during the Middle Ages was often a dangerous game, featuring ambitious monarchs, cunning advisors, influential clergy, and powerful nobles. 

Kings and queens had to move carefully to maintain their authority, often relying on marriages to strengthen alliances and protect their family line. 

The Church also played a significant role in politics, exercising strong power through excommunication and interdict. 

At the same time, power struggles were commonplace, both within the ruling dynasty and among the nobility, often beginning with plots and rebellions that escalated into civil wars. 

These behaviours show us the varied and unpredictable nature of medieval politics.

The art of war in the Middle Ages surpassed pitched battles and sieges. Knights and castles often dominate our imagination, but warfare was much more varied. Strategy and deception were as important as brute force. 

Feigned retreats, night raids, ambushes, and the use of terrain were all part of the military playbook. 

In addition, unusual warfare tactics were used. One example is the "chevauchée," a method used during the Hundred Years’ War where armies would raid enemy territory to undermine the enemy's ability to wage war and demoralize the population. 

The use of disease as a weapon also appeared: during the siege of Caffa, for instance, the attacking Mongol forces reportedly hurled plague-infected corpses over the city walls to spread disease among the defenders. 

The Catholic Church was a major institution in the Middle Ages, wielding social authority grounded in religious tradition and supported by political influence. 

The Church touched almost every aspect of life, from birth to death. It provided spiritual guidance and practical support. 

It was a centre for study that preserved and created important works of literature, philosophy, and science. 

Moreover, it played a significant role in politics through its influence on kings and queens and by leading armies in the Crusades. 

The Middle Ages also witnessed intense spiritual experiences and different voices. 

Mysticism, or the pursuit of a deep, direct experience of the divine, was common. Figures like Julian of Norwich, Meister Eckhart, and St. John of the Cross explored meaningful spiritual experiences. They often expressed those experiences in texts that were both beautiful and important. 

However, the Church did not always view these mystical experiences favorably, sometimes regarding them as wrong. 

The period also saw several heretical movements, such as the Cathars and the Waldensians, challenging the Church's authority and doctrine. 

These movements, ultimately suppressed, raised significant religious and social questions and prompted the Church to improve its teachings and practices. 

Pilgrimage was another important aspect of medieval spirituality. People undertook long and difficult journeys to sacred sites, such as Jerusalem, Rome, or Santiago de Compostela, seeking penance, miracles, or spiritual insight. 

Relics of saints were honoured, and the miracles associated with them were believed to heal the sick and perform wonders. 

The cult of saints spread through medieval life, offering people a spiritual connection that was both personal and communal.