An examination of the major themes in Medieval life. From birth to death, from language to performing arts, from country life to town life, from the structure of the universe to folktales.

Rural life

• Manorialism - Rural manor life.

Town life

• Medieval commune - Town defense.
• Guild - Town trade.
• Castle town
• Florilegium Urbanum Selection of primary source texts illustrative of various aspects of medieval urban life, in modern English.

Religious life

• Rule of St Benedict - Daily rituals of a monk.

Cultural life

• Culture of the United Kingdom
• History of British society

Language and literature

• Medieval Latin - The unifying language of high culture.
• Medieval literature
• Medieval poetry

Education

• Medieval university
• Scholasticism

Visual arts

• Medieval art
• Medieval architecture

Performance arts

• Medieval music

Stages of life

This section looks at the major life stages and how they were expressed in Medieval society. From birth, childhood, marriage, old age and sickness to death.

Childhood

• William - Example of Medieval nameing patterns.

Love, Sex and Marriage

• Courtly love

Customs

• Book of the Civilized Man

Medicine

• Medieval medicine

Death

Time

This section examines the nature of time in Medieval society. From how people saw the past, to the rythems of the day, week, month and year in the present, to how people saw and predicted the future.

The Past

• English historians in the Middle Ages - How English historians saw and wrote about the past.

The Present

Rhythm of the day/week/month/year

The Future

• Six Ages of the World
• Medieval astrology

The World

Medieval people saw the physcial and spiritual world around them in a much different way then we do today.

Nature and the Universe

• Alchemy in Medieval Europe
• T-O map

Other creatures

Animals

• Bestiary

Angles and Demons

• Medieval revenants - Those who returned from the dead.
• Medieval Christian views on witchcraft

Mythical creatures