Medieval villages were often situated on high ground for several practical reasons. Elevated locations provided a strategic advantage against potential invaders, offering a natural defense and a better vantage point for surveillance. Additionally, higher ground helped with drainage, reducing the risk of flooding and improving sanitation. It also allowed villagers to access clean water from nearby streams or rivers more easily while minimizing contamination risks.
Medieval traders often visited villages, as they had to pass through them in their travels. They were allowed to trade in the villages at any time, but they were especially attracted to the villages when fairs were going on, because the fairs also attracted other traders and people who would buy their goods.
In medieval times, latrines were often simple pits or trenches dug into the ground. Waste would accumulate in these pits, and there was little to no system for proper disposal or cleaning. This lack of sanitation led to the spread of diseases and foul odors in medieval communities.
i would say that in a medieval castle you would find a king, queen, princess/prince, court jester, servant's, chief's.
Most of the people who lived in medieval villages were peasant farmers and the members of their families. In many places the distinction between a village and a hamlet was that the village was big enough to have its own church. So typically, a village had a priest. A village was likely to have a baker, because most people did not bake their own bread. The ovens were too expensive for an ordinary person to have, so there would be one for the entire village. Many villages had mills, so there was a miller and his family. In some villages, the miller and the baker were the same person or married couple. The village might have a blacksmith. There could be a potter, weavers, fishers and so on. There was often a manor house, with the landlord's family and the servants. One thing a village would not have was a market place. So a village would not have merchants.
Medieval towns looked basically like Villages today do, they had cobbled streets, although they were mostly pounded earth. Most villagers couldn't read so they would have pictures of what a building was on its sign. Medieval towns were very busy and were also quite dirty. So there were probably a number of rats. Traveling plays would sometimes roam through the towns, depicting the christian bible, and the castle of a lord was sometimes visible in the distance.
Medieval traders often visited villages, as they had to pass through them in their travels. They were allowed to trade in the villages at any time, but they were especially attracted to the villages when fairs were going on, because the fairs also attracted other traders and people who would buy their goods.
Most often, dyers would have lived in villages on the manors, however they were placed. Most manors had hamlets or villages on them, and it was in these that most laboring people lived. Dyers had special needs for water, and this would have influenced where their homes were placed, but nearly all the villages on estates had water access nearby.
You would need to include food, clothing, animals and daily life
Medieval villages were settlements big enough to support a church. The population of such a place might typically have been around 200 to 500 people. A village would often have a baker, a miller (who might also have been the baker), a blacksmith, and other people engaged in crafts, but would not have a market, because having a permanent market required a charter, which would make the village into a town.
Yes, there were friendly villages in the Middle Ages. I think places where everyone was unfriendly would have been very much an exception.
In medieval times, latrines were often simple pits or trenches dug into the ground. Waste would accumulate in these pits, and there was little to no system for proper disposal or cleaning. This lack of sanitation led to the spread of diseases and foul odors in medieval communities.
Just read about deserted villages mainly in the middle ages and just wondered what happened. Also would love to know how the population went down as I can't find the answers.. Many thanks x
· Some villages were temporary so the society would move on if the land proved to be infertile or weather made life too difficult for the people living there. · Most of the people's time was spent on making enough food and produce to survive and to sell. · Medieval towns usually were near or around a river or a water source. · The people would often travel to another town to trade with.
Medieval dresses reached from the shoulders to the ankles; wealthy women liked to demonstrate that they could afford more material and often had a short train dragging on the ground behind. A woman showing her legs would be considered wanton or common and would be accused by the Church; washerwomen, dyers and other working women often tucked up their dresses under their belts to keep the hem out of the wet, but no decent or well-bred woman would do such a thing. Dress fashions changed considerably during the very long medieval period, but hems were always very close to the ground. See links below for images:
i would say that in a medieval castle you would find a king, queen, princess/prince, court jester, servant's, chief's.
In most medieval villages, there would be a blacksmith, carpenter, weaver, wheelwright, cooper, butcher, and several other more cottage type industries.
Plague or local enemies would often wipe out an entire village leaving them empty.