Medieval Times - St. Catharines

Edu-Kit Catalogue:
Medieval Times
Artifact
What is it?
Penny of William I (1086-1070)
and Penny of Eustace (1138-1153)
Silver Penny
How was it used?
These replica coins include
information about the historical
context in which they were minted.
This replica coin includes information
(William I The Conqueror 1066-1087)
about William the Conqueror.
Playing Cards
Used for a variety of different games
such as Piquet, a game for two players
using only sixes to aces.
Wax seals were used to mark
Wax Seal
important letters to show whether or
not someone had already opened
them and read the contents. The seals
would be in different designs to
indicate who had sent the letter.
Metal Cup
A metal cup like this one would be
used for drinking or for measuring
when cooking a meal.
Artifact
What is it?
How was it used?
Quill pen and ink well
Before modern day pens and
pencils, people would write by
dipping a feather into ink and
using it as a pen.
Knitting Materials
These modern day knitting supplies
give an idea of what it was like to
make clothing or other pieces of
fabric in medieval times.
Child’s Doll
Silver Belt
Simple dolls of this style would
have belonged to a child.
This decorative piece of clothing
would have been worn by a noble
or royal woman around her waist.
Fleece, Carder, and Wooden Spool
Fleece is sheep’s wool after it has
been sheared. Using a carder to run
the fleece out was one of the first
steps in making wool clothing
Artifact
What is it?
How was it used?
Emerald necklace, bracelet and ring
People in medieval times wore stones
as they believed they possessed
special powers as outlined in
Lapidaries (books about the
properties of stone). Such powers
could be of healing, or that of
warding off demons. Some stones
were regarded above others, such as
rubies and emeralds, and were
collected by royalty.
Silver necklace
Jewelry made from precious metals
was very valuable and usually only
worn by nobles and royalty.
Unicorn Necklace
In medieval mythology, a unicorn was
a rare creature that could only be
tamed by a maiden. For this reason,
this necklace likely would have been
worn by a young unmarried woman.
Imp Pin
The imp statue was originally found in
a Medieval church in England. It is
said that an angel turned the imp to
stone for causing mischief in a church.
An identical statue was built in a
St. Catharines church. Wearing a pin
version of this mischievous imp is
believed to be good luck.
Clay Marbles
Playing marbles was a popular
children’s activity. Instead of the glass
marbles we use today, children in
Medieval times would use marbles
made out of clay.
Artifact
What is it?
How was it used?
White Hat
Men and women both wore a wide
variety of headpieces during
medieval times. Hats like this one
which are more decorative than
functional would have likely been
worn by nobles.
Flower Crown
This type of decorative headwear
would have most likely been worn
by a young girl from a noble family.
Purple Hat
Another decorative hat in a style
worn by Medieval nobility.
White Hood
Hoods were worn by many different
people, from monks and members
of religious orders to regular
citizens and travelers.
A metal shield would be used by a
Wooden Shield
knight on the battlefield. It would
often be extremely heavy.
A wooden shield would be used for
children and knights in training to
practice protecting themselves with
a shield. Wooden swords would
often be used for practice as well.
Artifact
What is it?
How was it used?
Crown
Crowns were worn by kings and
queens and were the physical
representation of their authority.
They were often very elaborate, with
precious metals and gemstones
placed in them.
Chainmail Headpiece
Chainmail is a form of armour that
is lighter than the heavy metal
plates knights would often wear.
Chainmail did not provide as much
protection as heavy plate armour,
but made it easier for the wearer
to move around.
Metal Helmet with Chainmail Backing
This helmet provides heavy
protection of the head with light
maneuverable chainmail protecting
the back of the neck and shoulders.
It does, however, leave the wearers
face vulnerable.
Full Metal Helmet
This metal helmet would have
provided the wearer with excellent
head and face protection on all
sides. It would, however, be very
heavy and greatly obscure the
wearer’s view, perhaps slowing
him down and drastically reducing
his agility in battle.
Jousting Helmet
This helmet has an extra metal
covering that can be pulled down
over the face. It would provide
maximum protection, but would
also severely obscure the wearer’s
view. For this reason, it would be
best for jousting because the
wearer would only need to move in
a straight line while riding a horse.
Artifact
What is it?
How was it used?
Tunic (2)
The tunic was one of the most basic
garments, worn by both men and
women. Upper class people would
often wear another layer of more
elaborate clothing on top. Tunics
Tunic
Vest
could go from just above the knee
to down to the ankles.
Vests like this one may have been
worn by squires or assistants in a
medieval tournament. The colour
and patterns, as well as any other
added symbols, could indicate a
particular family or country one
was associated with.
Plastic Swords
These plastic swords are the right size
for children to hold, unlike a real
knight’s sword which would have
weighed about 32 pounds.
Archer with Crossbow
Crossbows were a useful advancement on bow and arrow technology.
These weapons would hold the bolt
back for the archer, meaning it
required less strength to shoot and
was generally easier to aim. The
difficulty was that it took time to load
a new bolt, meaning only two bolts
could be fired per minute.
Jester
A jester was like a clown who was
often hired to entertain nobles
and royalty.
Artifact
What is it?
How was it used?
Guard with Halberd
Guards were responsible for keeping
peace in towns and castles, as well
as protecting royals, nobles and
regular citizens.
In medieval times, only a select few
Trumpet Player
were taught to play trumpet.
Trumpets were not just for music;
more importantly, they signaled
instructions to soldiers in battle.
Trumpet players were therefore very
important and heavily guarded.
Knight with Sword
Knights were the most highly
regarded soldiers. They often came
from noble families since a suit of
armour and a horse were so
expensive. Knights lived by a code
of chivalry that said they must always
protect the weak and remain loyal
to the king.
Knight with Axe
Knights used a variety of different
weapons including swords, knives,
axes, battle hammers and maces.
Mounted Knight
Knights who rode into battle on
horses had a significant advantage
over foot soldiers, because they had
greater speed and height.
Artifact
What is it?
How was it used?
Flag Bearer
Flag bearers would provide
signals to his fellow soldiers that
could be seen over the battle. They
would also carry flags that signaled
what person, family, or country they
were fighting for.
King
The king was the supreme ruler of
a country. Kings and queens were
not chosen by the people, but
rather established through a line
of succession.
Squire
A squire was a knight’s shield,
armour or sword bearer. He would
often serve as an assistant to the
knight as well, running errands
and helping the knight prepare
for battle.
Nobles and royalty were people
Princess
who came from wealthy and
powerful families. These people
lived a far more luxurious lifestyle
than peasants, and they often wore
beautiful clothing to indicate
their status.
Horse with Armour
When a knight rode into battle,
protecting himself also meant
protecting the horse he was
riding on.
Artifact
What is it?
How was it used?
Plastic Shields
Medieval shields came in many
different shapes and materials.
Wood, animal hide, and metal shields
were all used and could be extremely
heavy. A knight would often
decorate his shield with symbols,
colours, and patterns that would
allow him to be easily recognized
beneath his armour.
Patterned Tights
Plain tight fitting breeches were
common among peasants in the early
middle ages. Towards the beginning
of the Renaissance period, tight
breeches became popular with
noblemen and kings, though they
looked much more elaborate and
were made of expensive materials.
Gold Trimmed Sash
This decorative piece of clothing
would likely have been tied around
the waist of a noblewoman.
Battle axes were usually made of iron
Plastic Battle Axe
or steel and wielded by common
soldiers more often than knights.
There were larger two-handed axes
as well as smaller one-handed axes
like this one, which could be thrown
at enemies in combat.