The paintings and drawings that survive from this period help us imagine what the world and the people in it looked like. Some illuminated manuscripts (a manuscript with drawings in the borders) show the seasonal activities of people in the countryside, e.g. harvesting crops in the autumn, planting new seeds in the spring. Other artworks such as tapestries (embroidered cloths) were used to show particular events or occasions.
Source A
Looking at the evidence
The image above is of the Bayeux Tapestry (c. 1070), an embroidered cloth showing the Norman invasion of England and the Battle of Hastings in 1066. 1. Examine the image and list three pieces of information this embroidery can provide for historians.
2. What advantages do the knights on horseback have over the foot soldiers?
3. Is this embroidery a primary or secondary source? 4. Who do you think ordered this tapestry to be made? 5. Does the identity of the person who ordered this tapestry make a difference to the source’s objectivity (having no bias)? Give reasons for your answer.
6. The painting on the right shows farmers ploughing the field and pruning vines in front of the castle at Lusignan in France. In pairs, discuss what information about medieval society you can discover from this artwork.