TOP 10 common misconceptions about the Middle Ages

2024 Author: Seth Attwood | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 15:55

The Middle Ages lasted about 1100 years (from the 5th to the 16th century). Very often this era is condemned and criticized. People who lived at that time are credited with ignorance, uncleanliness, a tendency to violence and much more. But was it really so?

1 Myth: the people of the Middle Ages were ignorant and rude

This misconception was reinforced by some Hollywood films, which were full of ignorance and medieval religious superstition. In fact, according to historians, philosophy and science flourished in those days. The brilliant minds of Machiavelli, Boethius, Dante, Boccaccio, Petrarch are a direct confirmation of this. The greatest works of music, art, literature were created in the Middle Ages. Castles and cathedrals in Europe, built at that time, still amaze with their grace and splendor.

2 Myth: medieval people believed the earth was flat

The famous monk Copernicus, who lived in the Middle Ages, proved long before Galileo that the Earth was not the center of the universe. While in the Age of Enlightenment, his follower Galileo was brutally persecuted for similar beliefs. Moreover, according to modern historians, many Christian scientists of that time recognized the sphericity of the Earth and knew its approximate circumference.

3 Myth: women were oppressed

This misconception flourished in the 70s of the last century. However, the life history of famous women of that era testifies to the opposite. Lords, kings and even the Pope listened to Hildegard von Bingen's opinion. She was a recognized polymath of her time, and her compositions and music are popular today. St. Joan of Arc subdued the entire French army. Queen Elizabeth I is also considered a recognized woman leader. At the same time, in the code of medieval knights it was stated that any woman, regardless of class, must be treated with respect and respect.

4 Myth: an era of great violence

There was violence at all times, but to say that there was a lot of it in the Middle Ages is a great delusion. In some films and books, they try to present the Inquisition as a terrible weapon of death, sweeping away everything in its path. According to statistics, over a 160-year period, there were only 826 executions per 45,000 trials. This is negligible compared to the atrocities committed by Mao, Hitler and Stalin. Serial killings were also rare in the Middle Ages. There are only two known serial killers of those times: Gilles de Rais and Elisabeth Bathory.

5 Myth: the life of the peasants consisted only of hard work

The only way for the peasants of the Middle Ages to earn a living for their family was to cultivate the fields. It was hard work. But at the same time, in those days, secular and religious festivals were regularly held, where people could relax and have fun. The entertainment consisted of dancing, drinking, tournaments and games. Many games have survived to our time: dice, checkers, chess, blind man's bluff and many others. It was a great opportunity for the peasants to get away from hard work.

6 Myth: medieval people didn't wash

This is not only a total delusion, but also a myth that has given rise to a number of false beliefs. It was believed that church incense was allegedly specially created to neutralize the smell from unwashed bodies. The myth of getting married in June or May falls into the same category because it was only during those months that people washed themselves. All this was untrue. The most eloquent confirmation of the cleanliness of medieval people is in the Latin statement: "To hunt, play, wash, drink, is to live!" (Venari, ludere, lavari, bibere; Hoc Est Vivere!). Most medieval towns had baths. Cleanliness and hygiene were valued above all else. Bathing was even included in various ceremonies, such as knightly tournaments.

7 Myth: the peasants lived in houses with thatched roofs, where various insects and animals were found

The roofs of the houses were not bunches of straw thrown on top of sticks, but a dense woven carpet. This fact shows that it was difficult for birds and other creatures to get inside the dwelling. At the same time, medieval people also fought against uninvited "guests" as our contemporaries fight against cockroaches or mice. It should be noted that thatched roofs were also found in many castles. In English villages, houses with thatched roofs are still preserved.

8 Myth: the poor were constantly starving

This statement is not entirely true. In the early Middle Ages, poor people ate mainly grains and plant foods. In a later period, meat products appeared on their tables. The daily diet of farmers who worked physically consisted of fresh porridge, jerky or dried meat, fruit, cheese, bread, and beer. At the dinner table, dishes of geese, pigeons, duck or chicken were often found. Some peasants kept apiaries. And honey was a constant treat on their tables.

9 Myth: there was no access to the Bible

In the Middle Ages, all books were written by hand. It took a lot of time and effort. Therefore, the value of such manuscripts was very high. In view of this, the Bible was kept in a special room, but this did not mean that people could not hear the word of God. The Bible was read aloud every day at Mass.

10 Myth: common death penalty

There was a very fair justice in the Middle Ages. The death penalty was imposed in exceptional cases: arson, murder, treason. And only at the end of the reign of Elizabeth I, people began to use the death penalty to get rid of political opponents. Public executions were for poor people, rich criminals were not publicly executed.