Podcast
Questions and Answers
Which room was considered the defining structure of a castle?
Which room was considered the defining structure of a castle?
What material were most kitchens in the first half of the Middle Ages built out of?
What material were most kitchens in the first half of the Middle Ages built out of?
What did the servants eat during a feast in a castle?
What did the servants eat during a feast in a castle?
What did the plants spread across the castle floor help to conceal?
What did the plants spread across the castle floor help to conceal?
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What percentage of a town's residents were considered peasants and not allowed inside the castle?
What percentage of a town's residents were considered peasants and not allowed inside the castle?
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Study Notes
Medieval Castle Life
- Medieval castles were dark, dank, and smelly fortresses infested with vermin and disease.
- Plumbing was non-existent, meaning no running water and no way to flush toilets, resulting in a massive cesspool of waste beneath the castle.
- The lack of running water also meant no baths, unless you were extremely wealthy.
Health and Hygiene
- Servants and lower-class individuals couldn't afford medicine, leading to widespread illness and reliance on home remedies or prayer.
- The absence of running water and proper sanitation led to the spread of diseases.
- Rats were everywhere in castles, carrying diseases like the plague that devastated Europe's population.
Living Conditions
- Castles were overcrowded, with dozens of servants and multiple generations of the lord's family living together.
- Privacy was non-existent, with toilets being communal and in full view of others.
- Living in a castle was like living in a tiny, cramped city, with everyone serving the needs of a single family.
Torture and Punishment
- Dungeons were used to imprison and torture criminals, political opponents, and others who offended the lord and lady.
- Torture methods included being eaten alive by rats, which was believed to cleanse the prisoner of their sins.
Daily Life
- Servants had to get up at sunrise to work, while lords and ladies could sleep in.
- Electric lighting didn't exist, so sunlight was crucial for getting work done.
- Drinking ale was a way to cope with the harsh realities of castle life, as it was safer to drink than contaminated water.
Bathing and Personal Hygiene
- Despite the challenges, people in medieval times wanted to take baths, but clean water was scarce, especially for the lower class.
- Baths were taken in large, portable wooden tubs that could be carried from room to room.
- Bathing was not a private or hygienic experience, but it was still a way to scrub off the dirt and grime of castle life.
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Description
Test your knowledge of medieval castle life with this quiz! Discover the truth behind the glamorous portrayal in movies and TV shows. From vermin infestations to limited hygiene, find out what it was really like to live in a castle during the medieval period. Are you ready to separate fact from fiction? Take the quiz now!
