During the Middle Ages, games were very popular. At that time, different social levels would play different games. People also made all of the materials needed to play a game. They didn't just buy the materials in the store like we do, they actually carved chess pieces out of wood. They made their own bows and arrows and constructed their own footballs.
| Upper
Class During the Middle Ages the Nobles played games like chess, checkers, backgammon and dice. All of them were made to be played indoors. Nobles did not play many outdoor games. (They did play chess outdoors sometimes.)
noble-women playing chess |
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Lower
Class
The serfs (peasants) played many of the games that the Upper Class
people didn't play. The lower class played Hockey, or Stickball (Similar to baseball or
softball). They also played soccer and golf. The only game that included both Upper &
Lower class was Ice Skating (they went when the lakes or water sources froze over).
Also, peasant women often participated freely in the ball games and footraces of medieval
times.
Chess
Chess was played by upperclassmen. They played chess with the
same pieces as us, one King, one queen, two bishops, two knights, eight pawns, and two
castles.
Jesters
Jesters were just like clowns in the circus. They always wore
colorful costumes, and they used lots of humor. Jesters often stayed beside a noble or
king and tried to make them laugh and be happy.
| Tournaments Tournaments were real fights with very few rules. The matches became so bloody and out of hand, the church eventually changed the tournament's rules so people would be safer during the tournaments. |
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