Medieval Life And Country Life Research Paper

Medieval life is perceived by most people to be romantic and charming. For the majority of the population in the Middle Ages, this was not true. Living conditions were filthy both in rural and metropolitan areas and most lower class citizens lived quiet, uneventful lives. Despite this similarity, there were some major differences between city and country life. Most lower class citizens farmed on manors, but some moved to the city. Those that did discovered the freedom and exciting aspects of city life. It was better for a peasant to live in a city or a town because they had products and services, they had many different job opportunities, and they weren’t tied to a manor.

Towns and cities during the Middle Ages were well protected.
According to “Medieval Chronicles”, “People from the countryside realized that they could sell food, products and goods easily in the new busy medieval towns and early entrepreneurs would take any surplus stock items they had to sell at medieval town markets, sometimes they did so well that they could afford to rent a property in the medieval town as well. Some medieval entrepreneurs moved to the medieval towns permanently to learn a trade or work for rich merchants. Many people from the countryside considered life to be much better in medieval towns because of the products and services that were available and there was also more varied and abundant jobs and entertainment” (Roberts). A good way for a peasant to earn money was to sell their goods in town. There were many roles and occupations in a town besides being a merchant. Some peasants lived in town but still farmed on a manor. Some worked in government, in the army, in The Church, and as entertainers. Communities periodically held markets for people to sell their products. Merchants formed guilds, which were groups of people that had similar jobs and businesses that supported one another. Guilds introduced a regulation system of goods that merchants and artisans respectively had to follow. Members received help and support from their fellow guild members. Various and diverse job opportunities were found in cities in the Middle