Life In Medieval Times

Darkness, despair, fatigue, and deaths: to people living in the current era, these may seem unbearable or even impossible. As for those living from the fifth to the fifteenth century, the Medieval period, those adjectives described their lives. Some had better lives than others, for the feudal system, a hierarchy that determined a peasant's job for the rest of their lives, divided each individual on the manor into a class. Peasants, those classified as the lowest of the lowest, struggled to survive and stay positive because of numerous factors. During the Medieval times, the arduous struggle of peasants directly connected to the incessant toil, the numerous taxes serfs were forced to pay, and the undesirable living conditions.

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Compared to the castles and pretty thatched cottages that nobles lived in, the homes of peasants were usually "damp, smoky, and dark cruck houses" (Truman). In fact, many peasants only expected their homes to last for less than 30 years. Mice could be heard in the rafters overhead, and wind rustled through doors. In order to try to keep out the wind, walls were made of woven twigs and mud mixed with straw and horsehair. The roof consisted of an amalgamation of reeds, hay, or grass. Strong ties cut from twigs along with wooden pins secured the thatch. The floor was beaten Earth, so each house was damp, since “water usually seeped through” (McDonald 14). Without gas, electricity, or oil, peasants relied on wind and water-power for heat. Most of the time, they would set a fire, which not only provided warmth, but as helped to drive away flies from the stable. As for furniture, the designs were quite simple and uncomfortable. Common furniture consisted of “hard wooden stools, straw mattresses, rough woolen blankets” (14). Overall, the living conditions were not desirable for peasants to live in.
Without a doubt, a peasant's life during the Medieval period was challenging and devastating. Every moment of their lives consisted of non-stop work. Although assiduous, peasant's were never fully appreciated for their hard work and still had trouble supporting their families due to the high taxes. Consequently, they situated in flimsy and dirty homes. All in all, the lives of these peasants were not only harsh, but also