| England's population was around 4.8 million before the plague | Population |
| London was the largest city with a population of 40,000 | |
| The next largest cities had populations of 5,000-6,000 | |
| 85% of the medieval population lived in the countryside | |
| Most people were serfs, forced to work the land for their lord | |
| Medieval society had three classes: aristocracy, clergy, and commoners | Society |
| Women had very few rights in medieval England | |
| Only a small minority of people, mostly monks, could read and write | |
| Medieval workers got about 215 days off a year. Today we get 132 | |
| Farming dominated the lives of most Medieval people | |
| New Year's Day in medieval England was on March 25th | Measures |
| The length of a medieval hour varied depending on the time of year | |
| An acre, the amount of land 8 oxen can plough in a day, varied | |
| A gallon of ale was larger than a gallon of wine | |
| An old English mile was about 1.3 modern miles long | |
| Medieval men wore "hose" rather than trousers | Fashion |
| Men wore "braes" beneath their clothes. They were similar to underpants | |
| Married women were expected to keep their hair covered in public | |
| Laws were made to govern the clothes people could wear | |
| Men started wearing codpieces in the 14th Century | |
| 10,000 miles of Roman roads were still in use in medieval England | Travel |
| There were few bridges in medieval England. Fords were more common | |
| Tolls had to be payed for roads, bridges, ferries, and to enter towns | |
| A traveller could cover 30 miles a day in summer, or 20 in winter | |
| Medieval world maps were not very accurate | |
| Between 1314 and 1667, football was officially banned in England | Laws |
| Animals were tried for crimes, just like humans | |
| Until 1215 guilt or innocence could be determined by "ordeal" | |
| Peasants needed permission from their lord to get married | |
| Jury trials began in England in the 12th Century | |
| The main food of peasants was a vegetable stew called "pottage" | Food and Drink |
| Plates (called "trenchers") were made from stale bread | |
| Spices were expensive and only for the rich in medieval society | |
| Sugar was expensive too, so most food was sweetened with honey | |
| Meat was a common food for the rich, but not for the poor | |
| Most people relived themselves in a chamber pot. The rich had privies | Hygiene |
| There were no sanitary towels. Rags or moss were used instead | |
| Failure to wash your hands before a meal was the height of bad manners | |
| Instead of toothbrushes people used twigs to keep their mouths clean | |
| The nosegay was a medieval form of deodorant | |
| Medieval barbers were also surgeons and dentists | Medicine |
| Doctors believed illness was caused by the four "humours" | |
| Bloodsucking leeches were a common treatment for illnesses | |
| Another treatment was "trepanning", or cutting a hole in the skull | |
| Wine was used as an antiseptic for wounds | |
| Hunting was the main pastime of the upper classes | Entertainment |
| Troubadours travelled the country, singing and telling romantic stories | |
| Jongleurs performed conjuring tricks and juggling | |
| Jousts were the highlight of medieval tournaments | |
| People enjoyed a variety of strategy and board games | |
