Throughout history, there have been some pretty strange laws. For example, in West Virginia, it was once illegal to whistle underwater. In Alabama, you couldn’t carry ice cream in your back pocket because people used to do this to steal horses! And in the British House of Parliament, it’s illegal to die. But back in medieval times, the laws were even crazier. Let’s explore some of the things people weren’t allowed to do back then.
Before soccer (or football, as most of the world calls it) became popular, there were different kinds of ball games. These games were quite rough and often led to injuries. In the early 1300s, a violent version of football was banned because it caused so much chaos. The authorities wanted people to focus on archery instead, which was more useful for battles.
In the late 1200s, villagers played ball games that could get pretty wild. Sometimes, they even used daggers during the games! There were many accidents, like in 1280 when a player was hurt by a dagger in Northumberland, and in 1283 when a man named Roger was killed by a stone ball in Cornwall. Because of these incidents, leaders decided to ban such games. In 1314, the Lord Mayor of London, with King Edward II’s support, banned football in the city. King Philip VI of France did the same in 1331. By 1363, King Edward III banned all sorts of games, saying they distracted people from military training. Archery became a required skill for Englishmen on Sundays starting in 1365.
Believe it or not, animals were put on trial in medieval Europe! People blamed them for spreading diseases or causing trouble. A man named E.P. Evans wrote a book about these trials, which included some bizarre stories. Animals were given legal representation, and trials could happen in either church or secular courts. In 1474, a rooster was accused of laying an egg, which was thought to be the devil’s work, and it was sentenced to death. Even insects and rodents were put on trial for damaging crops.
If a whale washed up on the coast of Wales, it belonged to the British crown due to a law from the 1300s. Whales were valuable for their oil, and in 1322, King Edward II declared that the king owned the whale’s head and the queen owned the tail. Sturgeons were also valuable for their roe, which was a luxury food called caviar.
Fashion was also regulated. Nobles didn’t want common people dressing too extravagantly, and kings didn’t want nobles to outshine them. In 1337, King Edward III made it illegal to wear clothes made of gold, silver, or fur. This was to stop the nobility from spending too much on fancy clothes. However, enforcing these laws was tough, and it made the king unpopular among the nobles.
About 100 years later, pointy shoes became fashionable. Known as “crakos” or “poolan,” the longer the shoe’s point, the higher the status. In 1463, Edward IV decided that only lords could wear shoes with points longer than two inches.
In one UK town, it was illegal to blow your nose in public. This was to protect horses from getting sick, as horse racing was popular in New Market, England, and they wanted to keep the horses healthy.
In 1309, Edward II criticized the nobility for their extravagant feasts. Edward III continued this in 1336, saying no one should have more than two courses at a meal, except on special occasions like Christmas. But these laws were hard to enforce, and the nobility kept enjoying their lavish meals.
Thanks for reading! What else would you like to learn about life in medieval Europe? Let us know, and stay tuned for more fascinating history!
Imagine you’re living in medieval times and create a safe version of a medieval ball game. Use soft balls and set up a field. Discuss the rules and why these games were banned. Reflect on how sports have evolved over time.
Conduct a mock trial for an animal accused of a medieval crime. Assign roles such as judge, lawyer, and jury. Discuss the fairness of these trials and what they reveal about medieval society’s beliefs.
Split into groups and debate the pros and cons of medieval fashion laws. Consider why these laws were created and how they affected different social classes. Present your arguments to the class.
Create a menu for a medieval feast, keeping in mind the dining laws of the time. Discuss why such laws were difficult to enforce and how they reflect the social hierarchy of the era.
Learn about the importance of archery in medieval times. If possible, arrange a safe archery demonstration or workshop. Discuss why archery was prioritized over other sports and its role in medieval warfare.
Here’s a sanitized version of the provided YouTube transcript:
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There have been unusual laws throughout history. For example, it was illegal to whistle underwater in West Virginia. Carrying ice cream in your back pocket is still technically illegal in Alabama because, in the past, thieves would do this to lure horses away for theft. You’re also not allowed to die in the British House of Parliament. Back in medieval times, there were even crazier and more ridiculous laws. Here are some of the things that were not allowed back then.
Before soccer (or football, as it is known to most of the world), there was a different amalgamation of games. While there was a ball, it didn’t resemble soccer as we know it today. The game was so violent that it was banned in the early 1300s, which kicked off a trend of various games being prohibited so that people could focus on archery, a more practical skill for the battlefield.
In the late 1200s, ball games were quite open to interpretation. Villagers would gather to play, sometimes competing against nearby villages. There was a goal, and players had to get a ball into it, often using tricks or even daggers. Brawls were common, and there are records of players sustaining serious injuries. In 1280, a player was accidentally punctured by an opponent’s dagger during a game in Northumberland. In 1283, a man named Roger was killed by a stone ball during a game in Cornwall. A student from Oxford University passed away in 1303 during a game, allegedly due to being attacked by a group of students.
Due to these unfortunate incidents, authorities eventually cracked down. In 1314, the Lord Mayor of London, backed by King Edward II, banned football in the city to prevent the chaos it was causing. King Philip VI of France banned it in 1331 for similar reasons. A couple of decades later, in 1363, King Edward III took it a step further and banned all kinds of games, declaring that all forms of throwing, handball, football, hockey, and other idle games were prohibited under penalty of imprisonment. The crackdown on games was seen as a way to maintain order, but there was also a practical reason: sports were viewed as distractions from military training, and archery was mandated for Englishmen on Sundays starting in 1365.
Switching from laws that protect animals to those that persecute them, animal trials were surprisingly common in medieval Europe. People blamed animals for diseases, for harboring demons, and for instigating riots. A guy named E.P. Evans wrote a book about this titled “The Criminal Prosecution and Capital Punishment of Animals,” which contains some wild stories. Animal trials could happen in either church or secular courts, and animals were often given legal representation. In 1474, a rooster was accused of laying an egg, which was believed to be the work of Satan. The chicken was put to death. These trials were not limited to domestic animals; insects and rodents were also put on trial for damaging crops and spreading disease.
If a whale washes up on the coast of Wales, it technically belongs to the British crown, thanks to a law from the 1300s. In the Middle Ages, whales and sturgeon were valuable, particularly for their oil. In 1322, King Edward II issued an edict stating that the king owns the head of the whale and the queen owns the tail, making whaling a royal monopoly. Sturgeons were also valuable for their roe, which was eaten as caviar, a luxury food item in medieval Europe.
Sanctuary laws in medieval Europe specified what people could or couldn’t wear or eat. Nobility didn’t like common folks showing off, and kings didn’t like nobles showing off either. In 1337, King Edward III issued a proclamation to regulate extravagant attire, making it illegal to wear clothes made of materials like gold, silver, and fur. This was a response to the excessive spending habits of the nobility. Enforcing these laws proved challenging, and it made the king unpopular among the nobility.
A little over 100 years later, it became fashionable to wear pointy shoes, known as “crakos” or “poolan.” The longer the point, the more status one had. In 1463, Edward IV started regulating footwear, declaring that no knight under the rank of a lord could wear shoes with points exceeding two inches.
In one town in the UK, it became illegal to blow your nose in public to prevent germs from spreading, not for the sake of public health, but to protect horses from illness. Horse racing in New Market, England, became popular, and new laws were passed to protect this industry.
In 1309, a proclamation by Edward II addressed the opulent dining habits of the nobility, criticizing their extravagant feasts. Edward III continued this effort in 1336, declaring that no man should be served a meal with more than two courses, with exceptions for special occasions like Christmas. However, these laws were nearly impossible to enforce, and the nobility continued their lavish dining habits.
Thanks for watching! What else do you want to learn about life in medieval Europe? Let us know in the comments, and don’t forget to like and subscribe for more interesting history!
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This version removes any inappropriate or sensitive content while maintaining the essence of the original transcript.
Medieval – Relating to the Middle Ages, a period in European history from about the 5th to the late 15th century. – The medieval castle was built to protect the kingdom from invaders.
Laws – Rules established by a government or other authority to regulate people’s behavior. – The laws of ancient Rome influenced many modern legal systems.
Sports – Physical activities that involve skill and competition, often played according to specific rules. – In ancient Greece, the Olympic Games were a major sporting event that brought together athletes from different city-states.
Trials – Formal examinations of evidence in a court to decide guilt or innocence. – During the Salem witch trials, many people were accused of practicing witchcraft.
Fashion – A popular style or trend in clothing, behavior, or manners at a particular time. – In the 1920s, flapper dresses became a fashion trend among young women.
Animals – Living organisms that feed on organic matter, typically having specialized sense organs and nervous systems. – Horses were important animals in medieval times, used for transportation and in battle.
Health – The state of being free from illness or injury, and the overall condition of a person’s body or mind. – Public health improved significantly with the introduction of vaccines in the 20th century.
England – A country that is part of the United Kingdom, with a rich history dating back thousands of years. – England played a crucial role in the Industrial Revolution, which transformed economies worldwide.
Crown – A symbolic representation of a monarchy or the power and authority of a king or queen. – The crown jewels of England are kept in the Tower of London and are a symbol of the monarchy’s history.
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs. – Learning about history helps us understand how past societies have shaped the world today.
