Tall stone walls, numerous holes located throughout the property, crumbling bricks, narrow hallways, small stairwells. These are just some of the features of the crumbling medieval castles that still stand today. Yet, only a few hundred years ago, these castles were the homes of the wealthy and a shield for the low-lights in society. The bigger and stronger the castle, the more wealth was shown, and the better protected the people of the village were. A successful medieval European castle would need to include a tactical location, unbeatable defenses, an abundant town, and deluxe amenities in order to survive. Survival was the key to staying alive in the middle ages, with all the items above people had a greater chance of living longer than
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Cups and plates were made of fine metals and also were on display on a ‘cupboard’ to show the lord’s wealth (Mason 9). Fine metals were considered to show wealth, as today gold and silver are still considered to be of the finest of all materials to make jewelry and utensils. Some foreign luxuries included silk, porcelain, pearls, fur, and mirrors (Mason 19). Some of the luxury items listed above are hard to find today, meaning that back then these items must have been hard to come by making them so extraordinary. Spices were also traded, some of the spices included pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves (Mason 19). Spices and flavorings in classic cuisine for the middle ages showed wealth because the minority of the people in the time period were not able to obtain such flavorings for their food. Pedigree dogs were treasured possessions. They were allowed into the Great Hall and feed on scrapes (Mason 9). Dogs were valuable because they were household plate cleaners. Since dishwashers and disposable waste areas were not very common in the Middle Ages, nobles reverted to other ways to clean off their plates after a meal. Books were valued possessions since each one was written so carefully and thought out (Mason 10). Education was not available to everyone in the middle ages, and not many knew how to read or even write. Books were rare to some and after the Crusades they were even harder to come by making them ever so valuable. These amenities, so rare and peculiar, showed wealth and power to the other nobles in the Middle
Cups and plates were made of fine metals and also were on display on a ‘cupboard’ to show the lord’s wealth (Mason 9). Fine metals were considered to show wealth, as today gold and silver are still considered to be of the finest of all materials to make jewelry and utensils. Some foreign luxuries included silk, porcelain, pearls, fur, and mirrors (Mason 19). Some of the luxury items listed above are hard to find today, meaning that back then these items must have been hard to come by making them so extraordinary. Spices were also traded, some of the spices included pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves (Mason 19). Spices and flavorings in classic cuisine for the middle ages showed wealth because the minority of the people in the time period were not able to obtain such flavorings for their food. Pedigree dogs were treasured possessions. They were allowed into the Great Hall and feed on scrapes (Mason 9). Dogs were valuable because they were household plate cleaners. Since dishwashers and disposable waste areas were not very common in the Middle Ages, nobles reverted to other ways to clean off their plates after a meal. Books were valued possessions since each one was written so carefully and thought out (Mason 10). Education was not available to everyone in the middle ages, and not many knew how to read or even write. Books were rare to some and after the Crusades they were even harder to come by making them ever so valuable. These amenities, so rare and peculiar, showed wealth and power to the other nobles in the Middle