4. Hunting was a favourite sport of the nobility. They would hunt on the local lord’s land. The tracking skills, weapon usage and horsemanship used while hunting provided training for war. Both men and women engaged in hunting.
Peasants could only hunt on common ground or else be accused of poaching.
Hawks were trained to hunt game birds and many medieval castles had a falconer who trained young birds for this.
5. Music was popular in medieval times. Many towns had a band that played on feast days. The hurdy-gurdy was a pear-shaped fiddle that was used. Troubadours travelled from town to town singing and playing music that often told stories about heroes and knights. Minstrels in medieval times were entertainers such as jugglers, acrobats, storytellers and musicians.
Assessing Your Learning
1. Explain the difference between a serf and a freeman. 2. In medieval times, what work did merchants do? 3. Name one religious order that either monks or nuns joined. 4. What were ‘troubadours’?
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Work and Leisure in 18th- and 19th- Century Britain
What work was done in 18th- and 19th- century Britain?
Farming
At the turn of the 17th century, the population of Britain was around 5.5 million. Most men and women lived in the countryside and worked in farming. An increase in food supply contributed to an increase in population over the next 100 years. By 1801, the population was over 9 million. This increased food supply was caused by changes that took place in farming.
1 Enclosure
In the 18th century, the open fields of medieval times were replaced by enclosed fields under the control of each farmer. Farmers introduced new farming methods which increased crop yields and increased livestock.
Outline what work was done in 18th- and 19th- century Britain
Define key words such as Agricultural Revolution and Industrial Revolution
Key Words
Agricultural Revolution Seed drill
Industrial Revolution Luddites
The Agricultural Revolution was an increase in agricultural production in Britain. Changes in farming methods resulted in more food being produced