1001 Space Earth Nature History First Civilisations Ancient Egypt Biblical Times Ancient Greece Ancient Rome Chinese, Japanese Civilisations Indian Civilisation African Civilisation The Early Americas The Rise of Islam The Middle Ages The Renaissance Civil War and Revolution The Industrial Revolution Two World Wars 20th-century Achievements Human World Science and Technology

Choose a Page:What did soldiers wear?What was a siege?When were the Middle Ages?What is the Bayeux tapestry?Who were knights?Did everyone go to school?Why were castles built?What were the Crusades?What was a joust?Who were the Templars?What did people eat?*What were the towns like?*Who was Marco Polo?What was the Domesday Book? What were the towns like? Towns were usually very crowded, dirty, smelly, and unhealthy. In the centre stood the marketplace, the main church or cathedral, and other important buildings. Small shops opened onto the streets, and craftsmen sat and worked in full view of the passers-by. The houses were tall and narrow, with the top floors jutting out over the streets below. Rotting heaps of garbage filled the streets. In the Middle Ages many of the big towns and cities, such as Paris, were built on rivers.   Previous: Back Book: 1001 Section: History Chapter: The Middle Ages