History (Towns in the Middle Ages pg 42, 43)

Question 1

Describe the towns in the Middle Ages

Answer 1

• not many towns in the Mid. Ages.
• towns did not belong to a noble like a village did.
• Instead, king gave town a charter which said that the townspeople were free and could rule themselves.
• So, the people of the town chose a mayor and officials to rule them, but had to obey the king’s laws as well.
• The mayor’s court tried people who had done small crimes.
• Twice a year, the king’s judges would come to the town to try people who had done big crimes.
• Everyone had to help run the town, by mending roads and walls, and men taking turns in keeping watch at night, etc.

Question 2

What were the good things about the towns in the Middle Ages
Hint: ppl could buy stuff and there was a lot to do

Answer 2

Firstly, in the towns people could buy all the things that they needed from shops. Each shop sold only one separate thing - like shoes, bread, pots or jewellery. The owner of the shop sold what he and his apprentices made. Secondly, there was a lot to do in the towns, so people could be entertained. There were many inns where people could gamble. Once a year the craftsmen did plays for the people. Sometimes wandering musicians, dancers acrobats and jugglers came and played in the market place. They also brought news and stories that were often not true. Though life in the towns seemed better than life in a small village, there were some bad things as well

Question 3

What were the bad things in the towns in the Middle Ages?
Hint: Dirt, no clean water, disease, crime

Answer 3

Dirt - towns very dirty in Mid Ages.
lot of people living packed closely together –> made things worse. roads - very dark. ppl had no toilets or drains. townspeople & shopkeepers threw all their rubbish, waste and sewage into the street. Everywhere- lots of rats. no clean water nearby either.
Disease - There were always terible diseases in the towns due to the dirt, filthy water and rats. Half of the babies born died before they were a year old. In a bad plague a quarter of the people died because there was no proper medicine or doctors.
Crime - There was a lot of crime in the towns as well because people were not friendly with each others, like in little villages. There were no policemen and the watchmen did not want any trouble. However when the robbers and criminals were caught, they were punishhed very cruelly.