Medieval Children
Recent scholarship has shed some much-needed light on the lives of medieval children and dispelled many misconceptions about how they were regarded and treated by their elders. These sites offer some details of daily life for children in the Middle Ages.
The Medieval Child
This extensive feature by your Guide examines the concept of childhood in the Middle Ages as well as providing details about childbirth, baptism, infant mortality, play, school, apprenticeship, and more.
This extensive feature by your Guide examines the concept of childhood in the Middle Ages as well as providing details about childbirth, baptism, infant mortality, play, school, apprenticeship, and more.
The Art of Onfim
Intriguing article by Paul Wickenden of Thanet explains how drawings on birchbark by a 12th-century child survived to give us a glimpse of his life in medieval Novgorod.
Intriguing article by Paul Wickenden of Thanet explains how drawings on birchbark by a 12th-century child survived to give us a glimpse of his life in medieval Novgorod.
Childhood and Fantasies of Medieval Mystics
From the Fall, 2000, issue of Lloyd deMause's The Journal of Psychohistory comes this dense article by Ralph Frenken, Ph.D., focusing on the childhood experience of medieval mystics.
From the Fall, 2000, issue of Lloyd deMause's The Journal of Psychohistory comes this dense article by Ralph Frenken, Ph.D., focusing on the childhood experience of medieval mystics.
Children In The Middle Ages Bibliography
Compiled from Sociofile at the ORB, this listing of useful resources provides an abstract for each item. Very helpful.
Compiled from Sociofile at the ORB, this listing of useful resources provides an abstract for each item. Very helpful.
Childrens Alphabet by Hans Weiditz
These illuminated letters date to 1521 and depict very young children in various playful positions around the letters of the alphabet. 23 gifs (no J, U or W), free for non-commercial and personal use at Retrokat.
These illuminated letters date to 1521 and depict very young children in various playful positions around the letters of the alphabet. 23 gifs (no J, U or W), free for non-commercial and personal use at Retrokat.
Chronica Regiae Coloniensis, The "Children's Crusade"
English translation by James Brundage of a 13th-century chronicle relating the sad events of a "children's" crusade, placed online by Paul Halsall at the Medieval Sourcebook.
English translation by James Brundage of a 13th-century chronicle relating the sad events of a "children's" crusade, placed online by Paul Halsall at the Medieval Sourcebook.
How did children live in the middle ages?
A brief introductory essay by Kari Westbye at the Viking Network offers some information gleaned from archaeological finds in Denmark.
A brief introductory essay by Kari Westbye at the Viking Network offers some information gleaned from archaeological finds in Denmark.
The Medieval Child: an Unknown Phenomenon?
This scholarly article by Sophie Oosterwijk lucidly addresses the idea that childhood was perceived as a separate phase of life by medieval people.
This scholarly article by Sophie Oosterwijk lucidly addresses the idea that childhood was perceived as a separate phase of life by medieval people.
Toys in the Middle Ages
Extensive, well-supported overview of various toys known to have been used and enjoyed during the Middle Ages, by Kimberly Tuttle; placed online at "Stefan's Florilegium" by Mark Harris.
Extensive, well-supported overview of various toys known to have been used and enjoyed during the Middle Ages, by Kimberly Tuttle; placed online at "Stefan's Florilegium" by Mark Harris.
Young Folk At Play
This picture was painted by Bruegel in 1560 and depicts more than 200 children playing more than 20 different games. Some are still played today and may have been played for centuries before the work was painted. Click "about the games" for a clickable map that provides info on each of 24 games. Fun stuff at the Elliott Avedon Museum and Archive of Games, University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
This picture was painted by Bruegel in 1560 and depicts more than 200 children playing more than 20 different games. Some are still played today and may have been played for centuries before the work was painted. Click "about the games" for a clickable map that provides info on each of 24 games. Fun stuff at the Elliott Avedon Museum and Archive of Games, University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.