Medieval history comes alive in Joseph and Frances Gies's classic
bestseller on life in medieval villages
This new reissue of Life in a Medieval Village, by respected
historians Joseph and Frances Gies, paints a lively, convincing portrait
of rural people at work and at play in the Middle Ages. Focusing on the
village of Elton, in the English East Midlands, the Gieses detail the
agricultural advances that made communal living possible, explain what
domestic life was like for serf and lord alike, and describe the central
role of the church in maintaining social harmony. Though the main focus
is on Elton, c. 1300, the Gieses supply enlightening historical context
on the origin, development, and decline of the European village, itself
an invention of the Middle Ages.
Meticulously researched, Life in a Medieval Village is a remarkable
account that illustrates the captivating world of the Middle Ages and
demonstrates what it was like to live during a fascinating--and often
misunderstood--era.