GRATIA DEI. A JOURNEY THROUGH THE MIDDLE AGES DID YOU KNOW… The sweet smell of home The peasant home of the Middle Ages was filled with a smorgasbord of smells that would nowadays be considered offensive. The thatch invariably stank of animals and humans, blending with the staleness of the straw scattered on the ground, which ranged from fresh to rotten. At mealtimes, the smoke from the fireplace mixed with the aroma of simmering food and drying hams hanging here and there. To a peasant in the Middle Ages, this was considered the sweet smell of home. A pastel so blue During the Middle Ages, clothing was made from flax and hemp, the vegetable fibers most often used to produce fabrics. In the 14th century, a new plant was found for dying fabrics—the woad, also known as the pastel. When ground and fermented, the leaves of the pastel produced a dye that ranged in color from mauve to blue-black. You villain, you peasant! Insults? Not at all. In the Middle Ages, these words referred to honest country folk. Villain comes from villanus (inhabitant of a villa or farm) and peasant is derived from paganus (inhabitant of a pagus or district). Bourgeois and proud of it In the Middle Ages, claiming to be “bourgeois” was well viewed. The term comes from the Latin burgensis, which means “inhabitant of the town,” a status not automatically conferred upon newcomers from the country. To attain this status, you had to be free and live in town for a year and a day. The mirror—vanity of vanities Thanks to the development of glass techniques in the 14th century and tin metal in the 15th century, mirrors were produced to faithfully reflect those who wished to gaze upon themselves. The irresistible image became a symbol of luxury, sensual delight, and beauty. The Church saw in it lust and vanity. As good as gold In the Middle Ages, money was made primarily from silver. Gold currency did not reappear in the West until the 13th century when the powerful merchants of Florence issued gold ducats and florins and the kings of France struck écus and louis d’or. These valuable and prestigious coins were used for international trade. Medieval skyscrapers? If you travel through Tuscany between Florence and Sienna, you’ll be surprised by the tall towers in the village of San Gemignano. Though you may think you’re looking at modern office buildings, they are in fact medieval constructions. These stone and brick towers appeared in Italy and southern France in the 12th century. The tallest are about 100 meters high. They were not so much used as residences as they were to show off how prosperous and powerful the masters were. On the strength of their new dominant positions, rich merchants sought to reach heaven by rising above the bell towers and outdoing their rivals. A kiss for peace and friendship The Russian custom for politicians to kiss each other on the mouth comes directly from the Middle Ages, when it was customary for two men to kiss in public. Like our modern-day handshake, kissing was a sign of friendship and recognition among men of high society. Nobles, clergymen, and knights did not hesitate to give each other resounding kisses of friendship. Purgatory In the 12th century, the Church invented purgatory, a toned-down version of hell where souls purged themselves. Only saints could bypass it. For others, purgatory could last 10, 100, or even 1,000 years. However, descendants could cut short the pain of the deceased by praying or giving donations to the Church, which became quite a lucrative business. The deceased were said to haunt the living who neglected this duty. Masters of time Up until the 1100s, a day consisted of eight hours based on the eight daily prayers of the monks. Merchants and scholars then sought to divide up time to suit themselves. Who would become the master of time? The Church and its 8 canonical hours or the supporters of the 24 hour day? A new device would end the debate, changing the concept of time, work, and even the world in the West—the mechanical clock, whose dial marked off two twelve-hour cycles. Home, sweet home Medieval peasants lived in very basic comfort. Houses had a floor made of packed earth that was sometimes covered with straw. Dishes and blankets were stored in wall niches, hung on nails in the wall, or kept on the floor. Clothes were put away in chests. Wooden benches and three-legged stools were used for sitting and a straw mattress inserted between some boards was used for sleeping by the more affluent. Bales of thatch made up the base of the bed. Jousting “La Soule” was a sport played in villages in the Middle Ages. Two teams of twelve endeavored to get a leather or wooden ball to a goal, which was often a door, tree, pond, or mark on the ground. Feet, hands, or even a cross could be used and all shots were allowed. The annual game took place at Christmas or during carnival time on a field bordering neighboring parishes. This “grudge match” was an opportunity to settle squabbles through sport. Informations: Serge Poulin/Agnès Dufour, [418] 643-2158 Relations publiques et communications Issued : May 20, 2003

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