Too Much Too Young - Children Of The Middle Ages

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Summary

In medieval England, nobody asked children, "what do you want to be when you grow up?" At a time when around half the population died before they reached 18 and a rigid system of social hierarchy h...

In medieval England, nobody asked children, "what do you want to be when you grow up?" At a time when around half the population died before they reached 18 and a rigid system of social hierarchy held sway, life choices were determined early and adult responsibilities sometimes began not at 16 but as early as seven. This film looks at the lives of medieval children embarking on their journey into adulthood and reveals that although they had to grow up quickly in a harsh world, the experience could also be richly rewarding. Focusing on the three pillars of medieval society - religion, war, and work - Dr. Stephen Baxter explores how children became valuable members of society: monks, rural laborers, domestic servants, knights, and craft apprentices.

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