Everything about life, culture, and history of the German Middle Ages
The Middle Ages in Germany is usually dated from about 500 AD to 1500 AD. It is divided into three phases: Early Middle Ages (500-1050) with the Migration Period, the Frankish Empire, and the emergence of the Holy Roman Empire under Otto I (962), High Middle Ages (1050-1250) as the heyday of knighthood, Minnesang, and Crusades, and Late Middle Ages (1250-1500) with urban growth, the Hanseatic League, and the plague. The end is marked by the Reformation (1517) or the discovery of America (1492). This epoch shaped the German language, culture, and many castles and cities that are still preserved today.
Knights were noble warriors on horseback who served a feudal lord. Their training began at about 7 years as a page, at 14 they became squires, and at 21 they were dubbed knights. They usually lived in castles, which were often cold, dark, and uncomfortable. Daily life consisted of weapon practice, managing their lands, and hunting. Knights followed the code of chivalry (bravery, loyalty, protection of the weak). At tournaments, they could win fame and prizes. The romantic image of the knight largely stems from the 19th century; reality was harsher. With the advent of firearms, knighthood lost significance in the 15th century.
Building a castle took several years to decades and cost enormous sums. First, a strategically favorable location was chosen (hill, river bend). Hundreds of workers - stonemasons, carpenters, blacksmiths - were involved. Building materials were often obtained on site or transported over long distances. The basic structure consisted of ring walls, keep (main tower), palas (residential building), chapel, and outbuildings. Castles had defensive installations like drawbridges, portcullises, machicolations, and battlements. Many German castles like Wartburg, Eltz Castle, or Marksburg are still preserved today and are testimonies to medieval architecture. Some were never completed when money ran out.
Medieval cities were surrounded by walls and protected by gates. Streets were narrow, dark, and often dirty. Houses were mostly built of wood and half-timbering, which encouraged fires. Life was organized by guilds: craftsmen like smiths, bakers, tanners had their own guilds with strict rules. The market square was the center of social life. Many cities gained self-governing rights ('city air makes you free after a year and a day' - serfs became free after a year of city residence). Hygiene was poor, leading to epidemics. Well-preserved examples of medieval cities are Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Bamberg, and Quedlinburg.
Diet depended heavily on social status. Peasants mainly ate grain porridge, bread, vegetables (cabbage, turnips, peas), and rarely meat. The nobility enjoyed elaborate banquets with game, poultry, fish, and imported spices. Bread was the staple food of all classes. People drank beer (even children, as water was often unclean), wine, and mead. Sugar was unknown, sweetening was done with honey. Many foods known today did not exist: potatoes, tomatoes, corn (from America) came only after 1500. Fasting days (over 150 per year) determined the menu. People ate with their hands and knives; forks were rare. Noble feasts could last hours with multiple courses.
The plague, especially the 'Black Death' of 1347-1353, was the most devastating pandemic of the Middle Ages. In Germany, an estimated 25-50% of the population died. Cities were particularly affected due to dense housing and poor hygiene. The disease was transmitted by rat fleas, which was not known at the time. Doctors wore beak masks filled with herbs. There were pogroms against Jews, who were blamed for the plague. The plague led to massive social changes: labor shortages strengthened the position of peasants, many villages were abandoned (deserted villages). Plague columns and plague cemeteries still remind us of this time today. Further plague waves followed until the 18th century.
Minnesang was the courtly love poetry of the High Middle Ages (12th-13th century), performed by Minnesingers at court. 'Minne' means love, often idealized, unattainable love for a high-ranking lady (Hohe Minne). Famous Minnesingers were Walther von der Vogelweide, Wolfram von Eschenbach, and Heinrich von Morungen. The songs were composed in Middle High German and performed with musical accompaniment. Minnesang followed fixed rules and motifs. The legendary singing contest took place at Wartburg. The Manesse Codex (around 1300) is the most important collection of Middle High German poetry with 137 Minnesingers. Minnesang influenced German literature sustainably and is considered the beginning of German poetry.