Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago

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FROM THE ARCHIVES: Could you survive life in medieval times?

In 1956, Britannica traveled to historic towns in France, Switzerland, and Belgium to recreate what it would be like to live and work in medieval times.

In the medieval rural community, life was simple. Serfs worked many jobs at the behest of a lord, whose castle and arms gave security to the people of the village. Some peasants with special skills, though, got to work in fields like baking, locksmithing, and carpentry. Over time groups of these merchants, called guilds, gained social and financial power—shaking up medieval life forever.

More from Britannica:
What Is a Guild? britannica.com/topic/guild-trade-association
Medieval Merchants: britannica.com/topic/merchant-guild
Medieval Craftsmen: britannica.com/topic/craft-guild


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