Life in the Middle Ages

The Middle Ages is commonly referred to as the period between the fall of the Roman Empire in Western Europe and the Renaissance. Delve into a comprehensive overview of the people, places and events that defined this period from Charlemagne through the legendary Crusades and the horrific Black Death. Students will garner a feel for the era by focusing of three distinct eras of medieval time: the Early, High and Late Middle Ages.

The backbone of medieval society was the serfs. Delve into the daily life of those who were bound to their lords' lands and whose days were filled with difficult manual labor. Discover what it was like to be the child of a serf. Learn about the holidays they celebrated and the eventual changes in society that led the members of this class to rise above their meager beginnngs.

Fuedal relationships during the Middle Ages established a hierarchy that deeply affected the social landscape of the period. Students will explore the complex relationships between a lord, his vassals and their serfs -- an intertwining of the wealthy and poor that resulted in everyone in medieval society depending upon each other. Discover the importance of land during this time and how ownership of estates affected nearly every aspect of life.

Delve into the nobility of the Middle Ages, exploring the castles that served as both fortification and living space for the noble family, while taking in the personal effects and food that demonstrated a noble's affluence. They were the wealthiest members of society, a group who advised the king and ruled the serfs. Students will learn about the traditional career paths for children born into nobility, the tournaments that nobles attended for entertainment and the lasting legacy of the wealthiest class of the Middle Ages.

With their code of chivalry and the legendary advenutres of King Arthur, much as been romanticized about the lives of knights, but what were they really like? Were all of their exploits really for the greater good? Students will get the lowdown on the lives of these armor-clad warriors of the Middle Ages, focusing on the role they played in the society of the time. Explore the ever-changing protection and weaponry employed by the knights, the reasons behind their participation in tournaments and the storied history of the Crusades.

Buying and selling goods to the general masses may not seem very exciting, but being a merchant in the Middle Ages ensured one a life filled with adventure. Explore the lives of these well-traveled entrepreneurs, whose trade in life generated the need for building medieval towns. Get a firsthand account of what it was like to be the wife of a merchant, and follow the path that young boys pursued to learn a craft. Explore the role of the guilds, and learn why the cathedrals of the period are lasting reminders of the wealth and dedication of these traveling craftsmen.

Monks were religious man who often lived sequestered from society in self-contained monasteries. Students will learn about monastic life in the Middle Ages, exploring the simple lives led by monks, often devoid of any luxuries of the period. Discover how monks spent their time within the monastery walls, how one became a monk and the role that they played in the Crusades.

The Middle Ages is commonly referred to as the period between the fall of the Roman Empire in Western Europe and the Renaisssance, and in this lively program, students will delve into a comprehensive overview of the people, places and events that defined this period.

Discusses the life of a noble during the Middle Ages.