Author Archives: Ruth

Peasant life

Posted on February 10, 2013 by Ruth

One medieval life pathway that I’ve ignored so far is that of the peasant farmer. He hasn’t entered into our stories yet because his life had so few transitions from infancy to adulthood. He didn’t go to school or get … Continue reading →

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Life of a castle lady

Posted on February 9, 2013 by Ruth

Adult life for a knight’s wife probably began in her middle to late teen years; her husband could be anywhere from 21 to 35, depending on how soon land and affluence had come to him. Upper class girls were sometimes … Continue reading →

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Life as a knight

Posted on February 9, 2013 by Ruth

Adult life as a knight divided into two typical stages. In the first, the young man was a member of another man’s household; later, he would have his own manor or castle to govern. In the first stage, he had … Continue reading →

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Life in the monastery

Posted on February 7, 2013 by Ruth

Having traced the major ways that children transitioned into adult life in the Middle Ages, I’ll describe briefly what it was like to live and grow old in each of these life pathways. Since I was just talking about becoming … Continue reading →

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Monastic vows

Posted on February 6, 2013 by Ruth

Entering the monastic life began with a year of living as a novice. Novices lived in separate quarters and although they participated in prayers and services, they received instruction in the community’s customs and sign language. Novice-masters expected to do … Continue reading →

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Why would any teenager take monastic vows?

Posted on February 6, 2013 by Ruth

As described in a previous post, children could be dedicated to the church around the same age that their peers entered school or began professional training. They were not forced to take vows when they got old enough. Monks and … Continue reading →

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Becoming a knight

Posted on February 4, 2013 by Ruth

Teenage boys who were in training to become knights crossed into adulthood with the ceremony of dubbing. There were squires who never became full knights, or who remained squires well through their 20s. This would be the case if their … Continue reading →

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Notes on university life

Posted on February 2, 2013 by Ruth

Copying the guilds, which had developed special “livery” robes for their members to wear on parade, lecturers and masters (graduates) began to wear a uniform robe and hat based on the fashion of the times. Many lecturers were monks, so … Continue reading →

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Living at a college

Posted on February 1, 2013 by Ruth

“Colleges” as divisions within the university came about as students faced problems in getting good housing. Students could arrive for university studies as young as 14 or 15. Medieval rich people often donated money at death to found some kind … Continue reading →

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Beginning university

Posted on February 1, 2013 by Ruth

Very few medieval schoolboys were destined to continue to university, but some did. University was preparation for only a few careers: professor, lawyer, doctor, theologian, or dropout. Dropouts tended to become private tutors and secretaries, stand-up comedians on a jongleur … Continue reading →

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