Domestic Life of Peasants in the Middle Ages

Domestic Life of Peasants in the Middle Ages

Many different classes of people existed in the Middle Ages. Each class had a certain and very different way of life than the other. Peasants in the Middle Ages had extremely difficult lives. Domestic life for the peasants during the Middle Ages was endured with many hardships and sacrifices, but in the end they were just everyday citizens doing what they had to in order to survive.

In the Middle Ages, three distinctive kinds of peasants existed: the serfs, slaves and the freemen. However, the majority of the peasant society consisted of the serfs (Gilberts para. 1). Serfs made up only half of the population for peasants in the 14th century, but during the mid-11th century, an astounding ninety percent of peasants, in distinct areas, were attributed to serfs. A serf was under the command of his lord and had to abide by his rules (Singman 8). He then contained absolutely no political rights (Gilberts para. 2). Alike the serfs, slaves were permitted to be sold and purchased, but, in fact, buyers of serfs did not have full ownership over them (Singman 8). If a serf happened to flee and stay hidden and unrestricted for a total of one year, he could then declare himself a freeman (Gilberts para. 2). Freemen were, indeed, permitted to roam around at liberty and own tiny pieces of land (Gilberts para. 1).

The person in charge of the peasant he "owned" was known as a lord. A lord and peasant were very courteous towards one another because of the fact that a lord, no matter what, could not evict a peasant and also a peasant was unable to decline work (Gilberts para. 1). A peasant would work three days a week on his lord's land. Peasants proved to be very precious to their "landowner because of the work" they were capable of achieving.

Typically, men were in charge of the household and provided most of the food and money for their family. In the Middle Ages, most men were either sheepherders or farmers. Different types of jobs given to the peasants included tasks such as raising crops and livestock and working the soil (Hinds 53). Both the women and children would sometimes take part in these tasks (Hinds 53). Duties given to women consisted of food processing and work around the house such as washing, cleaning, cooking, taking care of the animals and, of course, children and gardening (Barter 51).