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The Middle Ages had some rather surprising customs. Archery, for example, was compulsory at one point, and it was even possible to use eels as a form of rent payment. Despite being commonly known as the Dark Ages, this gallery aims to illuminate aspects of Medieval life. Take a look and uncover intriguing, unusual, and occasionally revolting details about the Middle Ages.
Last names were not always in existence, but were introduced in 1066 by the Norman conquest. Prior to that, individuals were known by one name or a nickname.
During the Middle Ages, archery held significance beyond being a mere pastime. In 1363, an edict was issued, requiring all Englishmen to engage in regular longbow practice every Sunday.
Women in the past sought to appear fashionable by having pale skin, leading them to use makeup. Tragically, these cosmetics often contained lead, which ultimately resulted in early mortality.
Animals were sometimes taken to court for various crimes. They faced similar consequences as humans, such as exile, imprisonment, and even capital punishment.
In the Middle Ages, the term "peasant" did not exist. Despite commonly referring to historical low-class citizens as peasants, this term would have been unfamiliar to them.
The origin of the candy-cane-like barber pole is darker than one might think. Barbers actually used to be surgeons and dentists as well. A white pole was used when they were bloodletting, and the barber would use a cloth to stop the bleeding, then wrap it around the pole and stick it outside to dry. Hence the image we have now!
While this may be a catchy title, the war actually lasted around 125 years. Maybe they just rounded down?
While we frequently associate witch hunts with the Middle Ages, the church was still teaching that witchcraft didn’t exist at this time. It was only during the Elizabethan era that witch hunts became the fad.
A sickness with supposed divine origin at the time, St. Anthony’s fire was actually caused by a fungus similar to LSD that grew on their rye. It doesn’t sound like a fun trip!
In the Medieval era, status and appearance were closely connected. A popular fashion trend during this time was for men to wear long shoes, with the length of the shoes indicating the wearer's wealth.
During medieval times, women valued the beauty of a domed forehead, emphasizing it by plucking their eyelashes, eyebrows, and even their hairline. This cosmetic practice aimed to draw attention to this desirable feature.
In the past, soccer was known as "mob football" and was notorious for its high level of violence. King Edward II banned the sport because of its extreme brutality. This was mainly because there were no regulations, team restrictions, and severe injuries could even result in death. Quite alarming!
During the Middle Ages in England, eels were abundantly found and even utilized as a form of currency, and as a means of paying rent, as indicated by historical records.
During the Middle Ages, wigs gained popularity as a common accessory. Surprisingly, people wore wigs to compensate for head shaving caused by lice infestations.
During the Medieval era, time was measured differently. Daytime was divided into seven equal hours from sunrise to sunset. However, the length of an hour varied greatly between winter and summer.
Likely due to the term Dark Ages, many assume that people in the Middle Ages thought the Earth was flat. Wrong! It is an often used but regularly debunked myth.
During that time, writing was considered a form of physical work, not requiring high intelligence. As a result, scholars relied on scribes to transcribe their words based on oral dictation.
Some female saints allegedly licked the wounds of lepers. They saw it as an act of humility...
During the Middle Ages, forks were not widely used in Europe due to their rarity and the fact that they were often made from valuable materials.
During the Middle Ages, individuals consumed porpoise as part of their diet. Ancient manuscripts provide insight into the making of porpoise haggis, which involves combining the porpoise's blood with different ingredients. Such manuscripts still exist today.
Piggy banks were first created during the Middle Ages. These coin containers were crafted from a type of clay called "pygg," which eventually became linked to the animal.
Jousting has always been highly perilous. Apart from enduring lance strikes while wearing bulky armor, the horses can achieve speeds exceeding 30 mph (48 kmh)!"
During the Medieval period, England was largely uninhabited. The population experienced growth initially, but the devastating impact of the Black Death resulted in the abandonment of numerous cities and villages due to the significant loss of people.
During the Middle Ages, a variety of torture devices, like the saw, the knee splitter, and the menacing Judas Cradle, were employed for punishment. These forms of torment showcased the era's unique creativity.
During the Medieval era, cannibalism was not considered taboo. In addition, it was common for starving Crusaders to consume their deceased enemies, while a substance called "mummy powder" was utilized for treating different illnesses.
During the Middle Ages, the codpiece emerged as a pouch worn by men in the groin area. Additionally, men experimented with corsets and wore very short tunics during this time period.
It has been suggested that brown bears used to roam England freely, but they went extinct during the early Middle Ages.
While you may think of the Medieval period as particularly filthy, with much of that idea coming from popular culture references, people actually tried to take hygiene very seriously. They bathed when they could, and frequently used combs.
See also: How dark were the Middle Ages?
Surprising facts about the Middle Ages
Interesting customs you probably don't know
HEALTH Medieval
The Middle Ages had some rather surprising customs. Archery, for example, was compulsory at one point, and it was even possible to use eels as a form of rent payment. Despite being commonly known as the Dark Ages, this gallery aims to illuminate aspects of Medieval life. Take a look and uncover intriguing, unusual, and occasionally revolting details about the Middle Ages.