The villages followed the open field system with thin long strips of fields outside the village centers. Subsistence farming had become a dominant way of life after the urban centers of the Roman Empire collapsed. The Agrarian Nature of the SocietyĮvery household in a typical English village of the 14 th century had a self-sufficient vegetable garden and space for small animals. Learn more about the plague’s effects on the medieval church. Hence, Easter was not just a celebration of resurrection of Christ, but a festivity when the storehouses of grains were refilled and fresh vegetables were ready for harvest from the cottage gardens. Lent, for instance, was observed when the granaries dried up and meat was in short supply. The Church also decided on the timings of festivals and feast days in line with the passing of seasons. The yearly calendar was a consequence of the rituals followed and marked by the Church. It structured the daily routine of the community surrounding an abbey or a chapel. The Church was a powerful force that influenced every aspect of people’s lives. With several business interests and deep involvement at every level of education, the Church played a significant role in the affairs of the medieval society. The Church was also the single largest owner of all properties. It was inconceivable for anyone from this period to accept the two as separate entities.
The church was an important part of everyday life and it functioned as a governing body in the 14 th century. The Church was no different from the state in medieval Europe. Importance of the Church in the Medieval Society However, in order to understand Europe in the early 14th century, it is necessary to make some broad assumptions, such as the whole of Europe was Christian, agrarian, and feudal. It would be an oversimplification of facts to state that England, France, Italy, or Germany were similar during the medieval period. Etal Castle, a ruined medieval fortification in the village of Etal, England. Let’s try to delve into the basic aspects of the European medieval society. In addition, a feudal social hierarchy also existed in the communities. While the Church played a significant role in shaping the society, subsistence farming was a dominant way of life in the early 14 th century. By Dorsey Armstrong, Ph.D., Purdue University The medieval society was primarily Christian, agrarian, and feudal in nature.
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