Life in Medieval Villages
How long did the Middle Ages last?
from about the 5th to the 15th century
Where were cities usually built?
on a hill or on the bank of a river.
What were the houses of city-dwellers made of?
of wood or stone
How many families usually lived in a medieval village?
Each village usually had from 10 to 60 families.
How could a place get the name "city" in the Middle Ages?
if it was given special town privileges by the king or queen, or if it had a cathedral or a university.
Where did rich residents live?
in multi-storey buildings
Why were the floors in medieval houses very dirty?
Families lived in tiny houses with all their animals, so the floors were very dirty.
What formed the centre of a medieval town?
A market place
What was on the ground floor of rich people's houses?
Shops were on the ground floor.
How did people cook food, and where did the smoke go?
Food was cooked over an open fire. There was a hole in the roof to let the smoke out.
How did visitors enter a medieval city?
through several gates which were guarded by soldiers
Why were multi-storey houses popular?
They were popular because only a limited amount of territory could be protected by the town walls.
Why didn't most people travel far from their village?
Most people stayed close to home because they were afraid of strangers.
What was the market place used for?
as a meeting place for local residents
What problems did medieval cities have?
Most cities were crowded, didn't have good drains, were dirty and smelly, and had narrow streets which made the situation worse.