Most
medieval homes were cold, damp, and dark. Sometimes it was warmer
and lighter outside the home than within its walls. For security
purposes, windows, when they were present, were very small openings
with wooden shutters that were closed at night or in bad weather.
The small size of the windows allowed those inside to see out, but
kept outsiders from looking in. Many peasant families ate, slept,
and spent time together in very small quarters, rarely more than
one or two rooms. The houses had thatched roofs and were easily
destroyed.The homes of the rich were
more elaborate than the peasants' homes. Their floors were paved,
as opposed to being strewn with rushes and herbs, and sometimes
decorated with tiles. Tapestries were hung on the walls, providing
not only decoration but also an extra layer of warmth. Fenestral
windows, with lattice frames that were covered in a fabric soaked
in resin and tallow, allowed in light, kept out drafts, and could
be removed in good weather. Only the wealthy could afford panes
of glass; sometimes only churches and royal residences had glass
windows.
IIn simpler
homes where there were no chimneys, the medieval kitchen consisted
of a stone hearth in the center of the room. This was not only where
the cooking took place, but also the source of central heating.
In peasant families, the wife did the cooking and baking. The peasant
diet consisted of breads, vegetables from their own gardens, dairy
products from their own sheep, goats, and cows, and pork from their
own livestock. Often the true taste of their meat, salted and used
throughout the year, was masked by the addition of herbs, leftover
breads, and vegetables. Some vegetables, such as cabbages, leeks,
and onions became known as "pot-herbs." This pottage was
a staple of the peasant diet.
The kitchens of manor houses
and castles had big fireplaces where meat, even large oxen, could
be roasted on spits. These kitchens were usually in separate buildings,
to minimize the threat of fire. Pantries were hung with birds and
beasts, including swans, blackbirds, ducks, pigeons, rabbits, mutton,
venison, and wild boar. Many of these animals were caught on hunts.
HOW CASTLES AND HOUSES
WERE BUILD
When building a castle, some
workers hammered wooden triangles into cracks in stone to split
it into smaller pieces. The stone blocks were carried to horse-drawn
carts, to be taken to the place where they wanted the castle
to be. On the site, stonecutters cut and carved the stone
into shapes following the architects’ designs. As workers,
most people mixed mortar with lime, water, and sand. Mortar keeps
stones together. The peasant's home
was damp, drafty, smoky and dark. Some peasant's homes only
lasted 30 years, because the roof was made of straw.
THE
MIDDLE AGES 
