Middle Ages Adventure

• Checker Tobi introduces himself as a cool and groovy guy who loves action and adventure.

• The topic of the day is the Middle Ages, which lasted from approximately 500 to 1500 AD, a period of about 1000 years.

• During the Middle Ages, there were no cars, electricity, or gas; people had to fetch water from a well or a nearby source.

• Checker Tobi is going to explore how people lived in castles, who had the power, and how ordinary people lived.

• Castles were homes to knights and princes who ruled over the surrounding areas; to take over, one had to conquer the castle.

• The first problem when attacking a castle was the high walls; the second problem was the defenders who would shoot heavy stones and sharp arrows.

• Attackers used catapults to destroy the walls or tried to break down the gate; if that didn't work, they would besiege the castle, which could take up to a year.

• Having an ally on the inside was the easiest way to take over a castle.

• Checker Tobi meets a scientist named Hubertus, who is dressed as a monk, and they explore the castle together.

• The knights belonged to the nobility, who built castles to show their power and status; the nobility had the power, while the monks prayed for everyone's souls.

• There were three social classes in the Middle Ages: the nobility, the clergy, and the peasants; each person belonged to one of these classes.

• The nobility included kings, princes, and knights; the clergy included the Pope, bishops, and monks who prayed, educated, and took care of people's souls; the peasants worked the land and grew food.

• On a castle, there was usually a noble family with their servants; the tower, called the Bergfried, was used to oversee the surrounding area.

• Life on a castle was harsh and unclean; there were no toilets, and people used a hole in the wall or a toilet seat over a pit.

• In the event of an attack, the defenders would sometimes throw feces and urine at the attackers.

• The toilet was usually a hole in the wall, and the waste would fall into the moat or a cesspit.

• If the enemy destroyed the well or contaminated the water supply, the castle would eventually fall.

• Checker Tobi and Hubertus explore a medieval peasant village, where people live and work as they did in the Middle Ages.

• The houses were made of clay and wood, and the villagers made all the objects themselves; even the priest's regalia was made by the villagers.

• The houses were dark, and people spent most of their time outside; the fire was used for cooking, heating, and lighting.

• The kitchen was a simple affair with a hearth, where people cooked their meals.

• The main food source was bread, and people ate what they grew; they also ate fish, meat, and fruit when available.

• Sheep provided wool, which was spun into yarn, and then woven into clothing; it took 160 hours to spin enough yarn for a shirt.

• Most peasants had one set of clothes, which they wore until it was worn out.

• Checker Tobi helps with the harvest, using oxen to plow the fields; the oxen were essential for farming.

• The whole family, including children from the age of six, helped with the harvest.

• If someone wanted to learn to read and write, they had to stay in their social class; there was minimal chance of social mobility.- In the Middle Ages, farmers had to give half of their harvested grains to the lord of the castle to ensure they could plant again the following year.

The lord of the castle and the church would also take a portion of the grains, leaving the farmers with limited resources.
If farmers failed to pay their dues or provide services to the lord, they would be punished, which could include imprisonment in the castle's dungeon.
The dungeon was a dark and frightening place where prisoners would be held for weeks or even months, with limited food and water.
Those who broke the law could also be punished by being placed in the pillory, where they would be ridiculed and pelted with stones and fruit by passersby.
The Middle Ages were not all dark and gloomy, however, as people would also celebrate grand festivals, such as the Landshuter Hochzeit of 1475, where nobles would hold lavish weddings.
During these festivals, acrobats and jesters would entertain the crowds, and knights would participate in tournaments, where they would compete against each other on horseback, using lances.
Knights wore heavy armor, weighing around 40-50 kg, and had to be skilled in combat and horse riding.
Only knights were allowed to participate in tournaments, and the winner would receive a prize and be admired by the ladies.
A knight's armor was the pinnacle of medieval weaponry, with a full suit of armor, helmet, and a small visor to protect the eyes.
To become a knight, one had to start as a page at the age of 7-8, then become a squire, and eventually, an Edelknappe, who would have the chance to become a knight at the age of 21.
A squire's duties included helping the knight with his armor, taking care of the horses, and learning etiquette and combat skills.
If a squire proved to be brave and skilled, they would be knighted at the age of 21.