Category: Daily Life in the Past

By Tim Lambert Viking Society Upper-class Vikings were called Jarls (from which we derive our word, Earl). Below them was a class of farmers and craftsmen called Karls. At the bottom of the heap was a class of slaves called thralls. Slavery was common in the world at that time. It was accepted as an… Continue reading Life in Viking Times

By Tim Lambert In the late 19th century about 80% of the population of the population was working class. To be considered middle class, you had to have at least one servant. Most servants were female. (Male servants were much more expensive because men were paid much higher wages). Throughout the century ‘service’ was a… Continue reading Middle Class Life in the Late 19th Century

By Tim Lambert In the era after 1948 technology made great leaps forward. There were many improvements in transport after 1948. The breathalyzer was invented in 1954. A Swede named Nils Bohlin developed the three-point seat belt in 1959. The hovercraft was invented in 1955. Jet passenger aircraft were introduced in 1949. Meanwhile, medicine made… Continue reading Technology and Inventions Since 1948

By Tim Lambert Viking women had considerable freedom. They could own land and inherit property. They could also divorce their husbands. If their husband was away on an expedition, they were responsible for running the farm. However, the Vikings captured women and children on their raids and made them slaves. They were sold in markets,… Continue reading Viking Women

By Tim Lambert It is a myth that 16th-century women were meek and submissive. Some were strong-minded and they had more influence than is sometimes imagined. In 1513 Henry VIII went to war in France. He made the queen, Catherine of Aragon, Governor of the Realm and Captain-General of the home forces in his absence.… Continue reading Women in the 16th Century

By Tim Lambert Women’s Jobs in the 17th Century In the 17th century, some women had jobs. Some of them worked spinning cloth. Women were milliners, dyers, and embroiderers. There were also washerwomen. Some women worked in food preparation such as brewers, bakers, or confectioners. Women also sold foodstuffs in the streets. A very common… Continue reading Women in the 17th Century

By Tim Lambert Education for Girls in the 18th Century In the 1700s girls from well-off families went to boarding schools. Poor girls sometimes went to dame schools where they were taught to read and write. Additionally, in some towns, there were charity schools known as blue coat schools due to the colour of their… Continue reading Women in the 18th Century

By Tim Lambert Women’s Rights in the 20th Century During the 20th century women gained equal rights with men. Technological and economic changes made it inevitable that women would be given the same rights as men. By 1884 the majority of men in Britain were allowed to vote. So in 1897 local groups of women… Continue reading Women in the 20th Century

By Tim Lambert Women in Sumer Sumer was the world’s first civilization. It arose in what is now Iraq about 3,500 BC. Sumerian women could own property such as land and slaves. They could also own businesses. Women could be witnesses in court the same as men. Some Sumerian women could read and write. Some… Continue reading Women in the Ancient World