Frequently Asked Questions
1. Were there warrior classes similar to knights in other parts of the world?
Yes, absolutely. The European knight was one of many elite warrior archetypes in the medieval world. The most famous parallel is the Samurai of Japan, a land-owning military aristocracy with a strict code of conduct (Bushido) and a focus on martial skill. In the Islamic world, especially in Egypt and Syria, the Mamluks were a unique class of “slave-soldiers” who were ethnically diverse (often of Turkic or Circassian origin) but rose to become an elite military and political ruling class. In India, the Rajput clans were hereditary warrior aristocracies known for their martial prowess and a strong chivalric code.
2. What are the biggest common myths about the Middle Ages and knights?
One of the most persistent myths is that knights’ armor was so heavy they had to be craned onto their horses. In reality, a full suit of plate armor weighed around 50-60 pounds, distributed over the whole body, which is less than what many modern soldiers carry. A trained knight could run, jump, and mount his horse unaided. Another myth is a lack of hygiene; while their standards were different from ours, nobles and knights valued cleanliness, bathed regularly, and used perfumes and soap. The idea of the “Dark Ages” itself is a myth; the period was one of significant technological, artistic, and social change, deeply connected to developments in other parts of the world.
3. How did contact with the Islamic world during the Crusades change a knight’s daily life?
This contact brought profound changes. A knight’s diet became more varied with the introduction of new ingredients like sugar, lemons, and apricots, and a greater use of spices from the East. Their homes became more comfortable with the addition of carpets and fine textiles like silk and damask. They encountered new ideas in medicine, science, and military architecture, which influenced castle design back in Europe. Even pastimes were affected, with games like chess becoming widespread among the nobility.
4. What did knights eat and drink, and were foreign foods common?
A knight’s diet was rich in meat (venison, pork, poultry), fish, and fine white bread. Wine was the preferred drink of the aristocracy. Foreign foods were not just common; they were essential status symbols. The most important were spices—pepper, cloves, cinnamon, saffron, and ginger—which traveled thousands of miles along global trade routes from Asia. A feast without heavily spiced food would have been seen as a sign of poverty or low status. Sugar, originating in Southeast Asia and cultivated in the Middle East, was another expensive luxury import that transformed aristocratic cuisine.
5. Why did the age of knights end?
The decline of the knight was a gradual process caused by interconnected global, military, and social changes. The primary technological driver was the proliferation of gunpowder weapons from China, which made castles vulnerable and plate armor less effective. Militarily, disciplined professional infantry armies using pikes and longbows proved they could defeat expensive knightly cavalry charges. Socially and politically, the rise of centralized states with monarchs who could raise taxes and pay for these new armies eroded the feudal system that knights depended on for their power and purpose.
