Life in the Middle Ages wasn’t all knights, castles, and fair maidens—it was also overflowing with the kind of oddball details that never make it into school history books. This article peeks behind the dusty curtains of history that once shaped the world.
Toilets Emptied Straight Into the Streets
Medieval cities weren’t exactly big on sanitation. People used chamber pots indoors, then hurled the contents into the street—sometimes yelling “Gardyloo!” as a heads-up. As a result, public areas stank, especially during warm weather. Diseases like cholera and dysentery also thrived in the filth.
Animal Trials Were a Real Thing
Believe it or not, pigs, rats, and even bugs had their day in court. They were accused of almost everything and given full trials with legal representation. Today, it sounds absurd, but to medieval minds, divine order meant every wrongdoer had to answer to the law.
People Rarely Bathed
Bathing was viewed as risky because many believed water opened the body to disease. So, people used dry washing methods like rubbing themselves with cloths or scented powders. Royals and nobles bathed occasionally, but peasants went weeks—or months—without a full-body scrub.
Forks Were Considered Sinful
Most people ate with spoons and their fingers. Forks were seen as unnecessary, foreign, and even offensive to God, especially in religious Europe. Church leaders called them decadent and accused users of arrogance. Some believed touching food with your hands connected you to divine sustenance.
Barber-Surgeons Pulled Teeth and Did Amputations
Barber-surgeons filled the medical gap left by university-trained physicians, who preferred scholarly theory to hands-on work. These multitasking barbers often learned through apprenticeship, not medical school. Tools for surgery were basic, and anesthesia was not a thing.
Doctors Relied on Astrology for Diagnoses
People believed different signs ruled various body parts—Libra for the kidneys, Aries for the head, etc. A medieval doctor might delay surgery because Mars was “misaligned.” Treatments were timed based on the moon phase, and celestial bodies were thought to influence the flow of bodily humors.
Animal Fat Was Used as Shampoo
Hair care in medieval times was far from glamorous. People sometimes washed their hair with animal fats like lard or goose grease, mixing it with ash or herbs. The result was greasy, fragrant locks—by their standards, a shiny success. Perfumed powders might follow for the wealthy.
People Believed in ‘Evil Air’
Forget germs. In the Middle Ages, bad smells were thought to cause disease. This idea, known as the miasma theory, suggested that illness floated through the air as invisible “evil vapors.” People carried pomanders filled with herbs and spices, held flowers to their noses, or burned incense indoors to protect themselves.
Bread Could Be Psychedelic
Rye, a common grain in medieval Europe, could grow a fungus called ergot in damp conditions. Ergot contains alkaloids that trigger symptoms like hallucinations, muscle spasms, and paranoia. People unknowingly ate this tainted bread, then blamed their strange behavior on witches, spirits, or divine punishment.
Animals Lived Indoors With Families
Animals often shared the same space with their owners. Livestock were valuable, and keeping them indoors protected them from theft and the weather. Homes usually had one room, sometimes with a loft for sleeping. Heat from the animals helped warm the house in colder months.
Women Gave Birth Publicly
Privacy during childbirth wasn’t a thing for most medieval women. Birth was often a group event involving midwives, neighbors, and sometimes curious onlookers. Men were usually excluded, but the space buzzed with advice, prayers, and shouting. With high risks and no pain relief, childbirth was intense and communal.
Doctors Used Mice to Treat Ailments
Mice were a go-to cure for warts, coughs, and even toothaches. Sometimes they were cut in half, mashed into poultices, or worn in little pouches around the neck. This came from a genuine belief that transferring the life force of one creature could heal another.
People Rarely Used Last Names
You were known by your trade, location, or a personal trait—John the Miller, Alice of Bath, Henry Longnose. These descriptors helped people stand out in a world where half the population seemed to be named William or Margaret. Surnames became more common as populations grew and record-keeping improved.
Nobles Dyed Their Hair With Lye and Quicklime
Looking fashionable in the Middle Ages could come at a price—specifically, your hairline. Noblewomen often bleached their hair using a mix of lye, quicklime, and even stale urine. These harsh chemicals burned the scalp and usually caused hair to fall out, but beauty standards pushed people to endure.
Some People Believed in ‘Sinful Sneezing’
Many believed sneezing was the body’s way of expelling the soul—or, worse, letting evil spirits sneak in. That’s why people started saying “God bless you.” Others feared that sneezing too much could be fatal, or that it meant something wicked was nearby. These beliefs were rooted in superstition and religious fear.