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Knights In The Middle Ages

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The Middle Ages was a very fascinating and crucial time period in which many important events occurred. It consisted of mighty knights who needed expensive armour and provided manors with protection. Feudalism was efficiently used in a way to keep societies intact and running at a good pace. The feudal system was nicely supported by the relationships between knights and the other social levels. Knights had a significant impact on the feudal system and everything surrounding its ways including culture, military, religion, and more. Knights were noble men who fought on horseback and often lived in castles (Brooks 4). Becoming a knight was not easy, training and hard work from a young age was required. In order to even consider becoming one, …show more content…

(Alchin). Religion, manners, riding, hunting, hawking, and strategic were all taught to the young pages (Alchin). They practiced sword play using wooden swords and shields and fighting on piggy back would introduce them to balance and skills that were a requirement in mounted combat (Alchin). Between pages, there was an age range from seven years old up to fourteen years old, when they would move forward to the next step in becoming a knight, serving in the position of a squire. Squires were servants to knights and were taught how to handle weapons and horses (Brooks 14). This role was one of the most important steps going into knighthood (Alchin). They were educated about Chivalry, the rules of Heraldry, horsemanship, and practice of the use of weapons and skills (Alchin). Not only that, but it was their duty to enter the social life of the castle and learn music/dancing, jousting, and courtly etiquette (Alchin). There was a practice called Melee as well, where knights participated with their warrior skills in a mock battle (Quigley 13). Individuals also competed against each other in jousts; a joust is like a melee except that it is done with two knights charging individually at each other …show more content…

Most people lived in the country and worked for lords, other lived in a city (Nelson). Although the city lifestyle was very different, it was not any easier. In cities, life was crowded and dirty, the majority of people worked as craftsmen and were members of a guild (Nelson). Young boys worked as apprentices for seven years learning a craft (Nelson). There were also other jobs in the city like Servants, Merchants, bakers, doctors, and lawyers (Nelson). Housing was not any better than the lifestyles during this time period. A lot of people just lived in one small home or two room homes (Nelson). Normally everyone slept in the same room and the house was alway crowded, sometimes even animals like a cow would live inside (Nelson). For the most part, homes in the middle ages were very uncomfortable with just a little smoky fire. Clothing between peasants and the wealthy had a significant difference. Peasants wore clothing that was plain and made out of heavy wool, this kept them warm in the winter (Nelson). Nobles clothing was made up of fine wool, velvet, and silk (Nelson). Womens wardrobe consisted of a long skirt, an apron, woolen stockings, breeches, and a cloak (Nelson). The long skirt they wore was called a Kirtle (Nelson). Men on the other hand wore a tunic, woolen stockings, breeches, and a cloak (Nelson). There were laws called ‘sumptuary’ laws that separated nobles

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