introduction
The Middle Ages was a difficult time to live in. Mainly because of the feudal system that separated citizens up into specific social classes that defined citizens' power and wealth. Laws were made to protect the people of the cities but, came with the cost of freedom. In terms of law, punishments for crimes were very extreme and often brutal, using torturous devices, even on children. Although the pope and the church was considered to be above on the social level, religion was very restricted. Religious groups outside of Christians, who were known as the "people of God", such a Jews were treated as the complete minority and disgrace. The laws controlled practically ever move of the citizens in the Middle Ages. Peasants, which made up the majority of the population, worked long hard labor hours with low income. They lived with minimal amounts of food and had filthy and often dangerous living conditions.. On top of this, whatever class someone was born into, that is where that person would remain, as well as their future generations, it was very rare that any person or family would transfer social classes. Medieval cities were filled with trash, sewage, and diseases because of the absence of sewer and garbage systems as well as the over population of people within the cities. Often outbreaks of diseases caused life expectancy of the middle ages to be extremely low. Saying this, it can be said that medieval times were filled with inequality, diseases and sickness, and unfair separation of people. The Middle Ages was a true age of hardships.