What was life like in medieval European towns?

Look carefully at the image your teacher is projecting. This image of a marketplace in a European town during the 15th century includes clues about these three topics:• why people would come to the marketplace• how people in the market are similar and

different• the absence of people or activities you would

expect to see in a medieval market

1. In the image copy below, highlight at least one detail that gives a clue about each topic.

2. For each detail you highlight, add a note to the drawing that explains what you think that detail tells about the topic.

3. Draw a line connecting each detail to the matching note.

I N T E R A C T I V E S T U D E N T N O T E B O O K

Life in Medieval Towns

© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute Life in Medieval Towns 1

P R E V I E W

R E A D I N G N O T E S

I N T E R A C T I V E S T U D E N T N O T E B O O K

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Social Studies VocabularyAs you complete the Reading Notes, use these terms in your answers.

charter apprenticeguild common law

1. Where were towns in medieval Europe often located, and why?

2. What contributed to the growth of towns in medieval Europe?

3. How was a town able to become independent of a feudal lord?

Section 1

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© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute Life in Medieval Towns 3

Section 2

1. What were guilds? Why were they established?

2. How did guilds help their members and the families of their members?

3. Suppose that you have just been accepted as an apprentice to a stonemason. In the space below, write a short letter to a friend describing what this means for you and what the next few years will be like as you try to become a master stonemason and a member of the guild.

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1. How did trade change from the beginning of the Middle Ages to the High Middle Ages?

2. How did merchants become the most wealthy and powerful citizens of towns?

3. How were Jews often mistreated in medieval Europe? What opportunity was open to them?

1. Describe the typical home in a medieval town.

2. What was difficult about childhood in a medieval town?

3. How were the lives of medieval girls different from those of modern girls?

Section 3

Section 4

© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute Life in Medieval Towns 5

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Section 6

Section 5

1. List at least three different conditions in medieval towns that led to the spread of disease.

2. What were some common diseases in medieval Europe?

3. What were some common practices or treatments used by medieval doctors?

1. Describe two methods for deciding the guilt or innocence of accused criminals in the Early Middle Ages.

2. What were some ways in which criminals were punished in medieval Europe?

3. What changes to the court system helped protect individual rights in the early 1100s in England?

1. What were some popular children’s games in medieval Europe?

2. What were some leisure activities enjoyed by adults in medieval Europe?

3. What was the difference between a mystery play and a miracle play?

I N T E R A C T I V E S T U D E N T N O T E B O O K

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P R O C E S S I N G

On a separate sheet of paper, create a daily diary page to describe what a typical day might have involved for someone living in a town in medieval Europe. Your page should include relevant details from the various aspects of life you learned about and include at least six entries. An example is shown, at right.

5:30 A.M. Rose from bed. Washed face

with cold water. Tied hair in net and put on

skirt and hat.

6:30 A.M. Ate breakfast (bread, cheese,

weak cider). Threw scraps in street. Began

walking to market.

7:30 A.M. Picked up shoes from cobblers’

guild. Asked master if his hand is healing

properly.

Section 7