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Life in a Medieval City

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Life in a Medieval City

Written by: Frances Gies, Joseph Gies
Narrated by: Anne Flosnik
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About this listen

Life in a Medieval City is the classic account of the year 1250 in the city of Troyes, in modern-day France. Acclaimed historians Frances and Joseph Gies focus on a high point of medieval civilization - before war and the Black Death ravaged Europe - providing a fascinating window into the sophistication of a period we too often dismiss as backward.

Urban life in the Middle Ages revolved around the home, often a mixed-use dwelling for burghers with a store or workshop on the ground floor and living quarters upstairs. A developed economy, focusing on textiles, farming, and financial services, could be found in the town center, where craftsmen competed for business while adhering to the guilds' codes of conduct. There were schools for the children, though only boys could attend and the lessons were taught in Latin by a priest. The church was a hub of both religious and civic life; services were lively and filled with song, and baptisms and other special occasions brought neighbors together to celebrate. The weddings of wealthier townsfolk were lavish affairs full of song and dance and drinking that could sometimes last for weeks.

©1969 Joseph and Francis C. Gies (P)2017 Tantor Europe Medieval Western Western Europe City War France Italy Medieval History

What the critics say

“Some particular books I found useful for A Game of Thrones and its sequels deserve mention.... Life in a Medieval Castle and Life in a Medieval City, both by Joseph and Frances Gies.” (George R.R. Martin, author of the A Song of Ice and Fire series)

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Profile Image for Luis Cabral

Great Resource

I'm using this for inspiration in my Dungeons and Dragons adventures.

The only fault I found is that some of the poems are read in their native language then followed by the english version.
So you end up just sitting through them waiting. Easily skipped in a book, but not in audio format.

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