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What comes to mind when picturing an average medieval individual? Often, it's a disheveled farmer with messy hair, a rough beard, worn brown clothing, and tattered shoes. Covered in grime, he drags a shaky cart that seems ready to collapse. And if you venture too close, the stench might overwhelm you, as medieval folks supposedly bathed just once or twice a year.
Our perception of the typical medieval person is heavily influenced by television. However, much of this portrayal is inaccurate. For instance, razors existed for millennia and were accessible even to those with limited means.
After the Crusaders introduced soap from the Middle East around 1200, hygiene standards improved more than we often assume. Numerous myths surround medieval life, and this list aims to debunk 10 of the most widespread ones.
10. They Consumed Alcohol Exclusively
A common claim is that medieval individuals avoided water due to its perceived impurity, opting instead for alcohol to avoid disease. While this notion is clearly false, it persists online and even in some documentaries.
Proof against this idea can be found throughout medieval history. Castles, for example, typically had wells for drinking water, which was also used in preparing stews and porridge, staple dishes of the era.
In medieval stories, characters frequently drink water from wells and streams without hesitation. Certain religious groups favored water over alcohol, striving for simplicity to deepen their spiritual connection.
The core issue lies here: Despite water being widely accessible and inexpensive (London had a network of pipes and public fountains as early as 1236), it was often viewed as a beverage for the impoverished or sick. In a time when daily labor burned significant calories, people sought richer, more satisfying drinks to sustain them.
In medieval times, beer and ale served as essential staples, quite distinct from modern versions. These beverages were richer and more calorie-dense, ideal for sustaining individuals engaged in long hours of manual labor in fields or workshops.
9. Contrary to Popular Belief, They Valued Cleanliness
A common myth suggests that medieval Europeans neglected personal hygiene, but this is far from accurate. While they may not have matched the standards of the Greeks or Muslims of the era, they placed a higher emphasis on cleanliness than many assume.
Historical records indicate that bathing once or twice a year was typical for medieval folk, primarily due to practical constraints. Most homes lacked bathing facilities, and the laborious task of hauling water from distant sources made frequent bathing impractical.
After a hard day's work, medieval people often bathed directly in nearby water sources. Hygiene practices varied among individuals, much like today, but most likely engaged in this routine fairly regularly.
In bustling medieval towns, accessing clean water was a challenge. Authorities enforced laws against dumping waste into water supplies, imposing fines on violators. Despite this, contamination persisted, prompting the construction of public bathhouses offering relatively cleaner water for washing.
Medieval folk maintained oral hygiene using wool or cloth scraps and cleaned their hair with basic soap solutions. A key part of their daily routine was washing their hands and faces each morning.
This practice was widespread across medieval society. Households typically had a shared basin, and public spaces like manor halls featured communal basins for daily use. A notable example is the stone basin preserved in Conisbrough Castle's keep wall in the UK.
8. Waste Disposal Involved Tossing It Into the Streets
When asked about medieval waste disposal, many today assume it was tossed into the streets. While this might have happened occasionally, it was far from the norm.
In rural settings, there was no need for such practices. With vast open spaces, residents could simply carry their chamber pots to the edge of their garden or field and dispose of the contents without causing any disturbance.
Many households had private outhouses or designated waste pits, which were periodically cleared. The collected waste often served as fertilizer, and historical records show minimal waste-related problems in rural medieval communities.
The real challenge lay in urban areas, where waste disposal was far more complicated. Without modern flushing systems, finding a suitable place to discard waste without causing a nuisance would have been nearly impossible in densely populated towns.
Medieval societies also grappled with waste management. Initially, waste was indeed discarded in the streets, but strict regulations were soon enacted to control its disposal.
Residents were legally obligated to maintain cleanliness in front of their homes. Muckrakers patrolled nightly to catch offenders, making it difficult to evade responsibility.
If waste was found and no one claimed ownership, the entire neighborhood faced fines, fostering community vigilance. In one instance, a man nearly faced fatal consequences from his neighbors for discarding fish skins in the street.
Alternative waste disposal methods existed. Medieval London featured a few public toilets, though insufficient for the population. Wealthier individuals enjoyed indoor facilities connected to cesspits.
Most residents either transported waste to rivers or deposited it into designated drains, which rain would eventually flush. These drains led to underground pits, regularly cleared by gong farmers, who earned a week's average wage in a single day.
7. Their Wardrobes Were Far From Dull
Contrary to popular depictions in medieval TV drama, where characters are often shown in drab, earthy tones, the Middle Ages were actually a time of vibrant clothing. Even individuals like innkeepers and merchants, typically portrayed as modestly dressed, favored colorful attire.
Dyeing fabrics added an extra cost to clothing production, making dyed garments more expensive. While many owned plain white or beige wool and linen outfits for sleep, work, or casual wear, the poorest often had no other options.
Medieval dyers had access to a rich palette of colors, with some hues being particularly costly and long-lasting. Purple, for instance, was a rare and prized color, often reserved by law for royalty due to the complexity of its production.
Blue, derived from the easily accessible woad plant, was a dye even ordinary people could use. However, medieval dyes faded quickly due to the lack of chemical preservatives.
The absence of dye-preserving chemicals and the use of harsh soaps, which often caused skin damage to washerwomen, meant that clothes frequently lost their vibrancy. As a result, people often wore garments in varying shades, depending on how many times they had been laundered.
Purple was reserved for the elite, while red and green were costly. Yellows and grays were more affordable and popular among those with modest means. Blue, being the least expensive, was the most widely used dye.
6. Table Etiquette Was Virtually Nonexistent
Medieval dining habits differed significantly from modern practices. Lower-class individuals often ate with their hands, as forks were not widely used until later in the Middle Ages. Despite this, it would be inaccurate to assume they lacked table manners entirely.
The level of formality depended on the company. Dining in a noble’s household involved strict etiquette, where even a modern diner might unintentionally cause offense.
In contrast, peasant meals were more straightforward and less ceremonial. Regardless of social status, washing hands before eating was a universal practice, and saying grace was common.
In noble households, guests washed their hands both before and after meals. Seating arrangements were carefully chosen by the host, with men and women seated together to promote decorum, and the finest dishes were reserved for those closest to the lord.
Hygiene was a priority. Once food was taken from the communal dish, it could not be returned. Speaking with a full mouth or drinking while eating was also considered improper.
Certain behaviors were considered rude, such as slurping soup, lip-smacking, picking teeth at the table, or excusing oneself to use the toilet. After meals, guests would drink to freshen their breath. Proper dining etiquette was highly valued, taught to children through guides, and those who mastered it earned the lord’s respect.
5. Their Sleep Patterns Resembled Ours
Today, most people sleep at night and wake during the day, with eight hours of sleep being the recommended norm. Waking up during the night is generally seen as disruptive, and efforts are made to return to sleep.
In medieval times, however, many people regularly woke up in the middle of the night. While historical records are inconsistent, mentioning both uninterrupted sleep and nighttime awakenings, this practice was undoubtedly widespread.
This practice was so prevalent that terms like “first sleep” and “second sleep” were commonly used. It remained widespread until the 1700s and persisted until the end of the Victorian era.
After waking from their first sleep, medieval people typically stayed awake for about an hour, a time known as the “wake.” This period was often spent in contemplation, with many engaging in activities like writing, reading, or prayer.
Monks across Europe rose around 2:00 AM for Matins prayers before returning to sleep. Others used this time for intimacy. Laurent Joubert, a 16th-century physician, even recommended this period for couples, claiming it enhanced their experience.
4. They Rarely Ventured Beyond Their Villages
The medieval period was marked by severe limitations on personal freedoms, especially in rural regions. Peasants were essentially bound to their lords, with little autonomy over their lives.
Peasants were tied to specific plots of land, which they managed on behalf of their lords in exchange for protection. This has led to the assumption that medieval people rarely ventured beyond their birth villages.
However, recent studies reveal that medieval individuals were far more mobile than previously believed. While their travels were not as extensive as modern journeys, people often moved across the country for various purposes.
A typical peasant would regularly visit nearby towns for trade and occasionally undertake longer trips, such as pilgrimages or family visits, a few times a year.
Some sought freedom by escaping their lords. If a peasant resided in a free town for a year and a day without being reclaimed, they gained their freedom. Additionally, military conscription could force men to leave their farms and travel great distances.
The wealthier classes were significantly more mobile. Merchants often journeyed across nations and beyond to trade goods at varying prices. Royal officials, knights, and sheriffs frequently traveled extensively for royal duties or to attend parliamentary sessions, which could be convened anywhere.
Inns were far more prevalent in medieval towns than today, catering to the constant flow of travelers. While few ventured beyond Europe before 1500, the average medieval individual traveled more than commonly assumed.
3. They Were Not Lawless
Contrary to popular belief, the medieval era was not a time of anarchy. It was a structured and regulated society, with most people adhering to the laws in place.
Numerous laws governed daily life. Traders needed licenses to sell specific goods internationally, sumptuary laws dictated clothing based on social status, and even minor offenses like knocking off someone’s hat incurred fines.
Taxation was particularly invasive. Since taxes were based on wealth rather than income, royal officials visited homes to inventory possessions and assess tax obligations.
However, the medieval state lacked the power of modern governments. Law enforcement relied heavily on community involvement. The Assize of Arms of 1181 mandated that wealthier men arm themselves to maintain order, and night watchmen, who patrolled towns, were unpaid volunteers.
From 1285, night watchmen were essential in maintaining town safety. They performed duties like firefighting, apprehending criminals, and waking early workers, all without pay. While individual attitudes toward authority varied, most people willingly contributed to preserving peace.
2. They Believed the Earth Was Flat
The understanding that the Earth is spherical dates back thousands of years, notably to the ancient Greeks. By the late medieval period, this knowledge was widespread among the educated elite.
However, the beliefs of the general populace remain unclear. The notion that everyone thought the Earth was flat is a myth originating in the Victorian era, which often portrayed the Middle Ages as a time of ignorance and barbarism.
To emphasize the perceived backwardness of the medieval period, Victorian scholars claimed that while ancient civilizations knew the Earth was round, this knowledge was lost during the Middle Ages due to anti-intellectualism.
A common argument supporting this myth is that many opposed Christopher Columbus’s voyage, fearing he would reach the edge of the Earth. In reality, most critics believed he underestimated the Earth’s size and would exhaust his supplies before reaching Asia.
Columbus embarked on his journey confident in the Earth’s roundness, believing he would reach the East by sailing far enough. Unbeknownst to him, an entire continent, America, lay in his path.
1. Their Food Was Far From Bland
Just like today, flavorful food was a source of joy in the Middle Ages. Contrary to popular belief, medieval cuisine was far from dull. Even the less affluent had access to a variety of flavors, reflecting their appreciation for good food.
Noble and royal feasts often featured five- to seven-course meals, rich with honey and exotic spices, rivaling the finest dishes of modern times.
Peasants typically consumed bread, pottage, and porridge. Unlike today’s sweet porridge, medieval versions were often savory, seasoned with ingredients like salt and butter.
Pottage, a staple stew, was made by boiling whatever ingredients were available. Many households cultivated herbs in their gardens or foraged for wild varieties to enhance their meals.
Herbs such as garlic, parsley, sage, and dill were commonly cultivated and added to stocks to create flavorful stews. Combined with mushrooms and root vegetables, these ingredients made for hearty meals, though limited variety was a challenge.
By 1300, most English villages were within a day’s journey of a market town, offering access to diverse medieval foods. Pastry shops, akin to modern takeout, sold spiced and salted meat pies, as well as treats like doughnuts. Honey, widely available, served as a sweetener for various desserts.
Markets offered nearly all the spices we use today, albeit at higher prices. Black pepper, though not inexpensive, was affordable for most if budgeted. While medieval food options weren’t as diverse as today’s, they were far more varied than commonly assumed.
