Pies: During the Middle Ages, mixed breeds of peasants’ dogs were required to wear blocks around their necks to keep them from

Evidence: 54 • authority: 72

Medieval cuisine includes foods, eating habits, and cooking methods of various European cultures during the Middle Ages, which lasted from the 5th to the 15th century. During this period, diets and cooking changed less than they did in the early modern period that followed, when those changes helped lay the foundations for modern European cuisines. Cereals remained the most important staple during the Early Middle Ages as rice was introduced to Europe late, with the potato first used in the 16th century, and much later for the wider population. Barley, oats, and rye were eaten by the poor while wheat was generally more expensive. These were consumed as bread, porridge, gruel, and pasta by p…

Evidence: 42 • authority: 72

The Black Death was a plague pandemic that occurred in Europe from 1346 to 1353. It was one of the most fatal pandemics in human history, leading to the death of up to 50 million people, around 30% to 60% of the European population and approximately 33% of the Middle Eastern population. The disease was caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, which is primarily spread by flea bites, though it may also spread through contact with infected tissues or fluids and, in pneumonic cases, through respiratory droplets. The Black Death had far-reaching population, economic, and cultural effects. It has been tentatively considered as the second plague pandemic, despite each of these outbreaks being sep…

Evidence: 38 • authority: 72

In London, the Norman period began with the Norman conquest of England in 1066, and the medieval period ended with the death of Richard III in 1485. During this period, Westminster became the capital of England, as monarchs held Parliament at the Palace of Westminster from 1265. London's population increased, reaching a height of 80,000-100,000 by around 1300: three times the size of the next largest city in England. The official boundary of the city was much smaller than today, covering just the square mile within the city walls, although there were also built-up areas in Westminster, Southwark, and Spitalfields. This period saw a dramatic increase in church-building, with over 100 churche…

Evidence: 36 • authority: 88

Evidence: — • authority: 38