Everyday Life in the Middle Ages

The Middle Ages lasted roughly from 500 CE to 1500 CE, the long stretch of time between the fall of Rome and the Renaissance. Most people at this time were peasants — farmers who lived in small villages and worked on land owned by a lord.

This system, called feudalism, was like a giant chain of promises. The king gave land to his nobles in return for their loyalty and soldiers. The nobles let knights and peasants live on that land. In return, peasants called serfs farmed the fields and gave part of their harvest, and the lord promised to protect them.

Life for a peasant was hard work from sunrise to sunset. Families lived in small one-room houses with a fire in the middle and often shared the space with their animals to keep warm. They ate bread, vegetable stew, and cheese; meat was a rare treat. Children helped in the fields from a young age.