6 myths about the Middle Ages that most people still believe

Medieval Europe, a period often marred by misconceptions and myths, deserves a closer examination. Lasting for approximately a millennium, from the fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th century to the Italian Renaissance in the 15th century, the term "Middle Ages" primarily pertains to Europe.

One prevalent fallacy suggests that medieval Europeans were universally ignorant and uneducated. An erroneous belief, popularized in the 19th century, falsely asserted that they thought the Earth was flat. While medieval scholars indeed considered the Earth the center of the universe, the notion of a flat Earth was not a prevailing view. In fact, a notable 13th-century text, "On the Sphere of the World," demonstrates an understanding of Earth's spherical shape. Over time, literacy rates rose as monasteries, convents, and universities were established. Furthermore, ancient knowledge from Greek and Roman texts continued to be studied and preserved.

The misconception of medieval people consuming rotten meat and relying on spices to mask the taste is rooted in misinterpretation. A British book from the 1930s mischaracterized medieval recipes, leading to the false notion that putrid meat was common. In reality, medieval Europeans actively avoided rancid foods and had methods for safely preserving meat, such as curing with salt. Spices were indeed cherished, but they were often expensive, and those who could afford them could also afford fresh, unspoiled food.

Regarding personal hygiene, the 19th-century description of the Middle Ages as "a thousand years without a bath" is misleading. Even small towns boasted well-used public bathhouses where people used soaps made from substances like animal fat, ash, and scented herbs. They also employed mouthwash, teeth-cleaning cloths with pastes and powders, as well as spices and herbs for fresh breath.

Medieval torture devices have captivated the imagination, with alleged relics from this era touring in the 1890s. However, many of these devices, such as the Iron Maiden, were fabricated and likely much more recent. The "Pear of Anguish" did exist but probably in later periods and may not have been a torture device. In reality, medieval legal proceedings were generally less gruesome, often involving fines, imprisonment, public humiliation, and specific forms of corporal punishment. The most brutal punishments, like drawing and quartering, were typically reserved for high treason.

Chastity belts, commonly associated with the Middle Ages, were likely not real. They were first mentioned by a 15th-century German engineer, possibly in jest, and were later misconstrued as authentic medieval artifacts.

Throughout history, ideas about the Middle Ages have varied depending on the interests and biases of later times. The term, along with the pejorative "Dark Ages," gained prominence during the 15th and 16th centuries, as scholars favored the Classical and Modern periods before and after. Enlightenment thinkers portrayed medieval people as superstitious and irrational, contrasting them with their commitment to reason. In the 19th century, Romantic European nationalist thinkers romanticized the Middle Ages, highlighting chivalry and wonder but often departing from historical accuracy.

In reality, the Middle Ages were characterized by diverse interactions, with ideas, trade, and people from various origins shaping medieval European cities. The notion of one distinct, cohesive period in European history, known as the Middle Ages, is perhaps the most significant myth of all. Originally defined by what it was not rather than what it was, this period has been a canvas for competing interpretations, fueling more fantasy than fact.