logo
episode-header-image
Feb 2023
51m 58s

Medieval peasants: everything you wanted...

IMMEDIATE MEDIA
About this episode

What was it like to be a peasant in the Middle Ages? Did they live well, with access to sufficient food, water and shelter, or were their lives characterised by poverty, pain and hard labour? Did they wash regularly, what did they do for fun, and could they better themselves in society? Speaking to David Musgrove, Professor Christopher Dyer answers listener questions about medieval peasants, from diets and dentistry to leisure and life expectancy.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Up next
Jul 8
Exploring the medieval world with Marco Polo
You may be familiar with the name of Marco Polo – the 13th-century Venetian merchant who travelled along the Silk Road, journeyed through Asia and spent time at the court of Mongol emperor Kublai Khan. Famously, he documented his experiences in a detailed account that has inspire ... Show More
44m 59s
Jul 7
The Mitford Sisters | 1 : life of the week
For much of the 20th century, six sisters from Britain’s minor aristocracy had a knack for making headline after scandalous headline. They were Nancy, Pamela, Diana, Unity, Jessica and Deborah Mitford. Now, the sisters' incredible shared story has been adapted into a TV drama cal ... Show More
49m 28s
Jul 6
Beyond the trenches: a new take on WW1
When you think of the First World War, what springs to mind? Is it trench warfare? The myth that troops would be home by Christmas? Or perhaps the idea that the whole thing began because of the assassination of an Austro-Hungarian archduke? In this episode, we’re going beyond the ... Show More
44m 12s
Recommended Episodes
May 2022
A Violent History of Fun - Having the Craic in Medieval Ireland 50/16
When you think of the Middle Ages what springs to mind? Medieval battles, warfare and general hardship? Certainly not fun. However while medieval Ireland was a violent place by any standard people were still able to enjoy themselves. In this episode I explore what our medieval an ... Show More
14m 18s
May 2023
Medieval Warfare: Deception and Trickery
Deception and trickery have always been a universal feature of warfare and the wars of the Middle Ages were no exception - from the Battle of Hastings to the “fake corpse ruse”. But how did Medieval mores justify deception during wars? Was cunning considered an admirable quality ... Show More
35m 40s
Feb 2024
Medieval Apocalypse
In the early 12th century, when England was suffering wave after wave of Viking invasions, many wondered how God could allow their kingdom to be ravaged by pagans? The Archbishop of York Wulfstan had an answer: the apocalypse was coming. What did that mean to people in the Middle ... Show More
29m 15s
Nov 2023
Life on the Medieval Coast
The popular BBC television series Villages by the Sea explores coastal life through the centuries. Its presenter Ben Robinson is an archaeologist with the fantastic job of exploring lost villages and uncovering their secrets, including those that give an insight into medieval lif ... Show More
41m 8s
Oct 2020
Classic Tides | Peasants and the Medieval Countryside
When we think of the medieval world, our minds usually turn to knights, royalty, and clergy. But the backbone of the medieval economic and social order was the humble peasant. In this rebroadcast from 2018, we explore the world and lives of the vast bulk of the people who actuall ... Show More
54m 48s
Jan 2023
Prendre soin de soi au Moyen Âge
Se couper les cheveux, se brosser les dents ou  tout simplement se laver : comment nos ancêtres, au Moyen Âge, accomplissaient-ils ces choses aujourd'hui ordinaires ?  Grâce au travail de Laurence Moulinier-Brogi, historienne, spécialiste de l'histoire du corps, battons en brèche ... Show More
20m 24s
May 2023
À quoi ressemblaient les banquets au Moyen Âge ? - Entretien avec Fabian Müllers
Mes chers camarades, bien le bonjour ! Quand on parle cuisine au Moyen Âge, l’image qui nous vient souvent en tête est celle du grand banquet aristocratique, durant lequel les nobles sont assemblés le long de grandes tablées, où ils mangent pendant des jours et des jours, au poin ... Show More
5m 48s
Jan 2024
How To Keep Fit in the Middle Ages
If your new year's resolutions include getting more exercise, drinking less, or eating well, you might be surprised to know that medieval people were every bit as interested as we are in becoming, being and staying healthy. In this episode of Gone Medieval, Dr. Eleanor Janega tal ... Show More
30m 48s
May 2024
Travel Guide to the Middle Ages
If you are planning - or dreaming of - your next holiday, have you stopped to wonder whether our medieval counterparts did exactly the same thing? Why did people travel in the Middle Ages, and what was the experience like for them? Were there any similarities with travelling toda ... Show More
37 m
Feb 2024
How to Cook Like a Medieval Chef
Preparing, serving and sharing food has always played a critical role in human history. But what did people in the Middle Ages like to eat and what did their food say about their social status? What was the haute cuisine of medieval Bagdad or Moorish Spain? Victoria Flexner and J ... Show More
32m 2s