The library of Medieval times

Warfare in medieval Europe most often centered on capturing castles, and sieges of those fortresses, as well as fortified towns. Pitched battles in which thousands of foot soldiers and mounted warriors clashed were equally spectacular. The late medieval centuries witnessed technological advances that introduced the first cannons and hand-held guns.

The medieval world had a variety of ways of dealing with crime, sorcery, and other instances of breaking society’s rules. Few of them were pleasant in any way. Indeed, many of these responses were embarrassing or painful for those being punished, and quite a few involved outright torture or even death.

With no scientific knowledge to guide them, people of medieval times believed that diseases were supernatural phenomena or punishments from God. Thus medical treatment was usually primitive and often horrifying. But little by little, knowledge grew—leading to a more practical and scientific approach to understanding sickness and ways to treat it..

After Romes fall, some of the medieval European kingdoms that rose upon its wreckage maintained units of mounted warriors. Over time, elite individuals in the ranks of those units gained fame as knights—fighters of exceptional skill and courage, whose armor grew to cover their entire bodies and who also enjoyed high social status..

From lords and ladies to merchants and serfs, medieval society was a rich tapestry centered on food, drink, feasts, and social gatherings. This book explores daily life in the medieval era through its appetites and customs focusing on country life, city living, weddings, and celebrations..