Life In The Middle Ages: From the Seventh to the Thirteenth Century

by Hans Werner-Goetz

Historian Hans-Werner Goetz presents here the first comprehensive depiction of life in the earlier Middle Ages that focuses on everyday history. According to Goetz it is nearly impossible to write a history of everyday life during the earlier Middle Ages since the written sources of that age had entirely different purposes, never describing everyday life for its own sake. However, by drawing on chronicles, legal documents, and fiction, Goetz is able to produce a lively picture of this era, illuminating everyday life as it was conditioned by institutional, physical, and social environments. Life in the Middle Ages addresses many of the current concerns of medieval historians in one single volume. After a brief introduction to the general conditions of medieval life, Goetz examines the family, illustrating the family’s fundamental importance as an ideal building block for other forms of society. The book explores monasticism and the monastery, which during the early and the high Middle Ages affected not only religious but also social, political, economic, and spiritual life. Goetz examines peasant life within the seigneurial system, focusing on the social and existential forms of the medieval manorial system. He also examines the life of the ruling class, concentrating on the sociopolitical level of princes and kings and the “courtly life.” Finally, Goetz evokes the beginning of urban life in the early medieval and high medieval town. Throughout the book, Goetz uses fascinating vignettes to illustrate the lives of simple people who may not have influenced world history but were nevertheless an integral part of it. Written for a broad audience, Life in the Middle Ages will interest students, scholars, and indeed all general readers interested in both history and the Middle Ages.

Genres: History, Reference, Nonfiction

328 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1986

Reviews

[Bettie]

Description: Historian Hans-Werner Goetz presents here a comprehensive depiction of life in the earlier Middle Ages that focuses on "everyday history". According to Goetz it is nearly impossible to write a history of everyday life during the Middle Ages since the written sources of that age had entirely different purposes, never describing everyday life for its own sake. However, by drawing on chronicles, legal documents and even fiction, Goetz is able to produce a lively picture of this era, illuminating everyday life as it was conditioned by institutional, physical, and social environments. "Life in the Middle Ages" addresses many of the current concerns of medieval historians in one volume. After a brief introduction to the general conditions of medieval life, Goetz examines the family, illustrating the family's fundamental importance as an ideal building block for other forms of society. The book explores monasticism and the monastery, which during the early and the high Middle Ages affected not only religious but also social, political, economic and spiritual life. Goetz examines peasant life within the seigneurial system, focusing on the social and existential forms of the medieval manorial system. He also examines the life of the ruling class, concentrating on the sociopolitical level of princes and kings and the "courtly life". Finally, Goetz evokes the beginning of urban life in the early medieval and high medieval town. Throughout the book Goetz uses vignettes to illustrate the lives of simple people who may not have influenced world history but were nevertheless an integral part of it. Written for a broad audience, "Life in the Middle Ages" should interest students, scholars and all general readers interested in both history and the Middle Ages.

[Nathan McCrina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most of what the book describes was probably fairly common all across Europe, but the specific examples were mostly drawn from Germany or to a smaller extent France, while I would have preferred more specific descriptions from England. Also, it was fairly dry reading; it could have been spruced up with anecdotes or something. It's likely that I was expecting a different sort of book than what it was actually intended to be. Still, there was a lot of information here and it was organized pretty well, focusing on monastic life, agricultural life and the life of the nobility separately.

[Ocean G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Centers around Germany (the original being in German), but a good overview of the various types of people found during the middle ages, whether it be monk, lord, knight, peasant, city dweller, etc. etc.

[Barbora Kilian · Rating 4 out of 5]

A comprehensive insight into medieval life.

[Daria]

Seite 74-114 übersprungen (Kloster)

[Heidi · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit dry. Though if you're a fanatic for this time period, it's worth a glance.

[Tereza · Rating 5 out of 5]

The study of Early medieval Europe, which is refreshing and unique, because most of the works are concerned with later periods of Medieval Age.