What Were Medieval Attitudes Towards Sex? | Medieval Pleasures

Medieval Pleasures: What Was Sex Really Like in the Middle Ages?
Watch the next two episodes on History Hit TV here: access.historyhit.com/medieva...
Warning: contains strong language and sexual content.
Get ready to indulge in some Medieval Pleasures. In this three-part series, historian Dr Eleanor Janega (@Going Medieval) takes us on a journey into the sumptuous world of Sex, Booze and Sport throughout the Medieval period.
In this episode, Eleanor and Dr Kate Lister (@whoresofyore) take to the streets of York to uncover the sex lives of folks living here over 500 years ago. Armed with medieval chat-up lines they attempt to woo a suitor while revealing the hidden ribald meanings behind some common words and phrases, giving an insight into the diverse, bold and unabashed sexual appetites of medieval people and the role the church had in controlling the sex lives of worshippers.
And at the Tower of London Eleanor explores courtly love and how the royal bedchamber was a very crowded place, particularly when a regal marriage was consummated. She also investigates the complicated rules governing the sex trade in the capital, where almost anything goes as long as it happens in the approved red light district.
Come with Eleanor as she ventures into the heady world of medieval pleasure...
And if you want to know more about what went on in medieval bedrooms and beyond, check out Kate Lister's fascinating new Betwixt the Sheets podcast on History Hit. You can even hear her discussing it with Eleanor Janega: pod.fo/e/11b847 They chat all things aphrodisiacs, sex diaries and religious rules, as well as bizarre fertility treatments involving actual fish in places they should never go. WARNING this episode includes explicit language and adult themes
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#MedievalPleasures #EleanorJanega #HistoryHit

[@tk.gaines]

I really appreciate how in all her videos she emphasizes how you’ll never understand the ancient or medieval world if you insist on looking at that world through a modern lens.

[@heidimeigs5192]

Exactly.

[@alyciamarie4163]

Same will happen with us in thousands of years.

[@marko.1245]

I feel that way about the Bible...

[@charliejohnston1978]

So that is what she tried to do, was look at ancient sexual activities through her own anti-church biased modern lens.

[@julianshepherd2038]

@@charliejohnston1978 just using the church as source is not history. It is a cult.

[@kittkattgo]

My Mother was born in London in 1929. She had 8 children, I was the 6th and born in the States. When I was in my 20's she said to me that, "Every generation thinks that they have invented sex." Now that I have turned 60, I totally understand why she said that.

[@bethewalt7385]

It took you until 60 to get that? That's funny and a little scary

[@malikahmad8170]

@@bethewalt7385 he is lucky to have discovered at 60-I am older and still had not found much

[@Benjaminleo815]

@@bethewalt7385 No it isn't. 60 is a good age to discover truths from our parents.

[@AtlisDe]

@@bethewalt7385 why is that weird? At 60 they've seen more than enough in their own experience to attach truth to their mothers statement. In short you're seeing a few generations depiction of sex by that point.

[@h0rriphic]

@@Benjaminleo815 sigh…and whatever age you are is far too late to have taken OP’s statement in such an insufferable, literal sense.

[@stephaniecuzner8147]

I love medieval manuscript doodles. I can just imagine these scribes getting bored and just doodling, no matter how good they were at drawing, not realizing their work would be a topic of art history and spread across the Internet. Can you imagine them rolling in their graves in embarrassment? I know i would if my doodles became a part of history

[@naporeon]

I know, right? And those doodles also allow me to use one of favorite words: "marginalia."

[@efjeK]

"Marriage is sex work one man at a time" had me on the floor. Amazing quote!

[@maitreyajambhulkar]

Marriage is what it should be. As you have highlighted that quote.

[@energyben]

It's a bitter and warped comment by someone trying to belittle marriage because she resents men, probably due to her own insecurities/issues

[@ogribiker8535]

​@@energybenOh get over yourself, looks like you are the one with a problem !.

[@Sarah-hw7ok]

@@energybenhaha no. It’s true in that time with the options women had for how to make an income. Not only is it not new info, but they said in the video what women could do for work and income, and you still missed it ? It’s either jobs of the ilk of washing peoples smelly dirty B.O. fragranced sometimes poopy (more often than if you washed your own; I worked sorting charity donations and some ppl consider the donation bin a trash bin/don’t care cuz they’re not handling it) and other nasties, and after all that still make little enough money you do sex work too. How do you add all this up and still come to your comment ?

[@anon2427]

@@energybenI agree

[@nickh.4917]

After my grandfather died my grandmother told me an off color story about him. I said, “My sweet old grandpa did that?” She said, “Well he wasn’t always old and he wasn’t always sweet.” The scenery changes, people don’t.

[@taynaraespinosa6934]

What does a color story mean?

[@jennifergleason9853]

"off-color" is the adjective here, not color. It is usually used as a way to describe lewd (not necessarily explicit but often sexual) language, such as a story or joke. I believe (don't quote me on this) it might have to do with the fact that color print and the fact that classified ads would be printed in the back pages of papers and magazines, so the ads for sex workers or sex toys or the explicit jokes or cartoons would often be printed "off-color," but again just a guess.

[@optimist3580]

@@jennifergleason9853off-colour in English means that a person is not feeling well. A doctor would note a persons pallor, it’s quite common for an English speaker to say that they are feeling “off colour”

[@andromedaspark2241]

​the meaning appears to differ between "off-color" in American English and "off-colour" in presumably British English. In the US it means "lewd". @@optimist3580

[@alicemilne1444]

​@optimist3580 Idioms in English can have more than one meaning. Both your explanation and Jennifer's are correct. The meaning just depends on context.

[@bethnorrod5942]

My great grandmother was born in TN in 1911 to Scottish parents. Her favorite color was red,but she'd been raised that only hussies wore red. She wouldn't even grow red roses. As meek as she was,she was strong. Her husband was born to Irish parents,they married at 12. She was 22,pregnant for the 4th time when her husband was diagnosed with a brain tumor. He was getting uncontrollably violent,she would lock herself up with the kids at night. During her 8th month,told her he was terrified of hurting her or the kids,went out to the woods and shot himself. She carried him home,put him on the kitchen table,cleaned him,and held a 3 day wake. She said she'd never remarry and she didn't. She passed in 1992. After she died,we found trunks full of red lingerie,purses and shoes. It was like her little rebellion against her deeply religious parents. Deep down she wanted to be a hussy. Lol.

[@colleenwhalen-pg7un]

So even as an adult with a family of her own, she was still under the thumb of her parents....the parents are in Scotland and she was in Tennessee.......I dont get it?

[@bethnorrod5942]

@@colleenwhalen-pg7un her parents and her in laws immigrated here. She was surrounded by people so religious and stuffy that she couldn't even wear her favorite color, it became so ingrained that she still wouldn't wear it after she was widowed and on her own. She bought pretty lingerie,purses and shoes in red,even though no one saw them,they still made her feel wild and sexy.

[@medinsane]

Damn that’s crazy! I’m glad I was born to less religious parents in a more modern era, I spoke before I could walk and my mum says as soon I knew the words I refused to wear clothes that weren’t red! Imagine a 1 year old demanding what colour her dress will be that day! I still like red but I wear other colours too now :)

[@Mehki227]

@Ana Luiza Were not religious at all and neither were my grandparents, but she was always protecting us from boys and sex. She was very strict. Anyway my 60 something sister just told me 2 days ago, she didn't wear lipstick until she was 40 because my grandma scrubbed her face so hard when she caught her playing in our aunt's makeup. Nearly out entire conversation was about the things we do and don't do more, because of what our parents and grandparents said. Both of us are very independent women, who've bought our own homes support ourselves and raised our kids ourselves, but things from childhood no matter what will influence the rest of your life and how you live.

[@justanormalwoman5230]

@@medinsane I remember when I was 12 or 13 I painted my nails red. My father, who was around 40-41 told me I looked like a prostitute. This was in the early 2000s. Prudish people are everywhere unfortunately. Luckily my mom never agreed with him. Ever since then my fav colour is red when it comes to my nails or lips. 😀

[@TanukiOfficial]

4:46 Gives new meaning to the saying, "I'll be there with bells on."

[@juliesmith5123]

Technically, it brings light to the original meaning but yes, I get what you are saying. I picked up on that as well.

[@dryroasted5599]

After I was an adult, I was talking to my Grandma about Grandpa, who had died when I was six. She told me that he had been fired from his position in the city fire department because he had been caught having an affair. He left town shortly after that and found work in a neighboring state (as a carpenter, not a firefighter.) She followed him with their two daughters after a short time, and they lived there for nearly eight years. Everyone came back to our hometown and nothing more was said about it. She never considered divorcing him. This was in a medium sized city on the west coast, but the shame of his act was enough to ostracize them in the community. I was amazed that I'd never heard this story before, and circumspectly asked my mother and aunt about it. They said they'd never known the reason why the family had moved, but had suspected when they were older. Times certainly have changed.

[@marcusaurelius4777]

As it should have been shamed. Marriage is a bond. To take it so lightly makes you undeserving of civilization. Imagine being a woman married to that guy and he disgraces you in such a fundamental way. The only reason that she DIDN'T divorce his undeserving ass was because she was trapped by society. No way to get an education, job, future, etc... outside of the economic transaction that women were forced to participate in: marriage. I absolutely believe that she would have divorced him had she options to do so. I can't fathom the idea of being forced to marry some unfaithful bastard for the rest of my life and depend on everything and be at his mercy. I'm a man, and I thank god that I was born so. Society is so hostile toward women it's outrageous. Nowadays men are like, "Women are so toxic and have such high standards!" No, they have the SAME STANDARDS as you, they only now have the freedom to do so and act on those desires lol. Even still, marriage is a trap for women because their careers usually end to be the baby maker and home maker slave. Fuck that lol. God bless your GrandMA for putting up with that shit.

[@HistoricalWeapons]

could not have clicked faster

[@ukuleonscotland674]

😂

[@shawnwhite2120]

😆

[@matthewwriter9539]

That still won't get you any more sex.

[@MrShoryuken1]

Click clickety click click click!

[@iDigsGiantRobots]

SAME

[@kelb6073]

The one main thing I learned after reading tons about history, is language, clothing and laws may have been different. But people weren't different at all. They lied, cheated, had fun, liked jokes. Anything happening today, happened back then minus technology. Good, bad and ugly. I think they were crazier..they really liked a good time 😂

[@tempesttking5715]

Well said! Lol

[@Yellow-Rose]

I think people are definitely crazier today.

[@Man-cv5ws]

@@Yellow-Rose I doubt it, people had picnics at executions.

[@Yellow-Rose]

@@Man-cv5ws but executions were normal. Anyway not everybody had a "picnic" as you call it. People do a lot of s*** today that's not normal.

[@Luubelaar]

People are, and always have been, just people. We really aren't that different to everyone before us.

[@Earthbound369]

Nice to learn about Medieval Pleasures instead of wars, pestilence, and tortures of the era. 👍

[@Manager_Mister]

Make love not war

[@gijbuis]

I went to a Roman Catholic boarding school run by a teaching order of monks. We had to study Chaucer but we were not allowed to study the Miller's tale - which of course became the part of Chaucer's works which we all ended up knowing best!

[@censusgary]

Closing the bed curtains wasn’t just for privacy. There was a common belief that keeping out the night air would prevent illness. Also, houses were not well heated, and the curtains helped hold warmth in during the cold months.

[@garethsmith7628]

They did not realise mosquitos spread malaria and thought it was the "night vapours"

[@censusgary]

@@garethsmith7628 The mosquitoes that spread malaria are active only at night, so to the extent that the curtains kept out mosquitoes, they probably did help prevent malaria.

[@Conathan23]

J9D⁹8th .

[@polarexperts2125]

Oh, it is like nowadays coming soon in winter

[@reelsforyou8567]

Also, courtly love is being used improperly here. Courtly love is the pure, unconsummated love between a knight/subject and his lady

[@bradleybobbs]

"We tend to think about sex work as being this really modern invention." I certainly haven't thought that, due to it being so frequently called "the world's oldest profession".

[@esmeecampbell7396]

Yeah there's a couple misconceptions or intentional misinterpretations that seem to have been deliberately inserted here that don't make sense to be innocent mistakes. That is one, trying to make it sound like accepting prostitution is a solely progressive move because "hey look they had it back then we wouldn't care". The other one is the disingenuous claim that transexuals were as common back then as they are now simply because ONE person was listed as having been born John but working as a prostitute. Likely that was a hermaphrodite, they were usually raised male even if they wouldn't be able to function as one, and probably only resorted to living as a woman for the work aspect (men had the money, most men wanted sex with women, thus most profitable to "become" a woman and go hooking as one of those instead) whereas these days it is rampant as really just a political trojan horse and supported mainly by people looking for attention or legitimising a fetish, or most of all suffering from a genuine mental illness. Academia is shifting VERY left wing and becoming VERY revisionist, which is essentially the worst crime a historian can do.

[@SuperMegaCyrus]

@@esmeecampbell7396 Trans people have been around forever and will continue to be. Cry about it.

[@esmeecampbell7396]

@@SuperMegaCyrus they really haven't, Catamites are the closest thing in historical record but they didn't literally consider themselves to be women... The point is AS COMMON back then, learn to read. They simply didn't exist in the same numbers back then as they seem to now, which suggests something other than human biology is the cause, the trendiness, the fetish element, the knowledge of it spreads and corrupts other people into believing it. Nowadays it is just a sexual fetish that is masquerading as a "legitimate" belief. Personally I think in 100 years it will have faded away or been cured, because that's what it actually is, a mental illness. Now go join the 41%

[@Necrovoker]

​@Esmee Campbell you just had to go on a transphobic tirade

[@esmeecampbell7396]

@@Necrovoker I had to point out that the history they are stating was inaccurate. Historical revisionism is dangerous, just as dangerous when transsexuals are trying to insert themselves into it as when nations try to write themselves an identity that never existed.

[@Perkelenaattori]

I've listened to Kate Lister's podcast for a while now and there's a regular advertisement about trying to find company on the streets of York, armed with medieval chatup lines, and I'm glad to see this video is here for all of our pleasure.

[@carolyna4484]

Really enjoyed this, thanks! Have always loved medieval history, especially info about normal folk and everyday things and like to think I was there in a previous life. Went to London a few years ago and felt like I was home. Thanks everyone for posting anecdotes about their long-passed family.

[@sallybalkin8507]

These 2 ladies communicate so easily with each other. It's like watching two old friends have a natter. They are so relaxed it's refreshing to watch.

[@glennduke5853]

The ladies are good. I expect they have a good amount of familiarity with the subject in modern times!

[@themanifester1807]

@@glennduke5853 😂

[@KingsPriest]

This was historically inaccurate and a farce. This was purely a propaganda piece on normalizing immoral deviant sex. The anti-Church bias is grotesquely apparent. This is how the godless see and think. Between the fake giggles and laughter the straight up lies are insulting. She found only a single person who might be trans and without any other corroborating evidence states it was everywhere and common. Huh? This is suppose to be scholarly? Wake up people if you cant see through this then it's probably too late for you and your conscious is seared. You are on the same ship, it's on fire and is going down and you don't even know it. Very sad.

[@Fragrantbeard]

@@glennduke5853 oh, ha ha ha, women having sex.

[@meldoesnails7682]

@Sally Balkin I had never heard the word "natter" used before. Thanks for introducing me to a new word. 😊

[@jeffcolorado]

I'm reminded of the King who had someone watch the marriage bed of his son and the princess from another kingdom to make sure the marriage was consummated. The King asked the watcher if all went well. The watcher replied, "It was all very royal. The princess said, 'I offer you my honor.' The prince said, 'I honor your offer.' And that's how it went all night. Honor. Offer. Honor. Offer."

[@sheilasoule2774]

😂

[@MrAdryan1603]

Yikes.. 😂

[@adamesd3699]

You, my good sir, are the winner of this comment section today.

[@rickyrydell]

A nice variation of the classic judge (your honor) joke. Well played!

[@hkumar7340]

😂😂😂 Just bone her!

[@c704710]

One of my favorite medieval riddles: "It is pointy on top, hairy at its base, it often makes ladies cry, but they like it in the pantry" There is only one answer possible to this riddle: An onion.

[@casy6203]

😒🤣🤣

[@daffyf6829]

I think one thing that should be mentioned about the bedding ceremony is how marriage was more about politics than about love or romance especially with royals. The bedding ceremony was more like an oversight committee, a guarantee of the alliance's legitimacy and of course a legal witnessing. In fact, we still call the groomsmen and bridesmaids witnesses.

[@TheSirStrazzen]

Reminds me of the Meme I've seen a few times now in different formats. It has a Knight i plate armor with a Halberd and he says " She said she wanted me to treat her like a Princes ~ So I married her off to a stranger to strengthen Our Alliance with Poland {Westphallia, Saxony, Bavaria, etc....}" . Always makes me laugh when that Meme comes around again . :-) TSS

[@dennisrichardville4988]

it still is !

[@delboy-su3wf]

Watching a drama on Netflix last year think was Spain. how the Lords of the manner wd bed a man's wife before him. Like rape. I just thought yet these same men whos women wd be had before them wd go and fight for Kings and for men who had there wife's.

[@TheSirStrazzen]

Yea, and I remember from "Braveheart" the Roman Governor having some sort of Ritual with every Maiden that got married ? "Prima Nocturna? Or some such , but because Wallace hid his marriage the Garrison Commander slit his wife's throat and thus started the " Campaign to Eradicate All Romans in Scotland " , or something like that. LOL 🤣 TSS

[@owensampson5380]

@@TheSirStrazzen ACA

[@hardingdies7811]

These two Ladies make history not only come alive, but remind us that humanity really doesn't change that much, just the 'conventions of the day' vary - and the Catholic Church remains the same. This whole series has been enlightening. Thanks!

[@thebloodgod5885]

Absolutely loved this video. Thank you so much for not glossing over queer people too. So refreshing to have a historian mention queer sex and gender without judgement.

[@osajohnson1957]

Better late.... So glad I found your video! What a treat to watch a smart, pithy and vibrant historian in her element. Thanks!

[@lenyfreeman3807]

I had a childhood friend who's grandmother was Sally Stanford. She was a madam in San Francisco, moved to Sausalito, and created a "restaurant" with a red light in the window. The name was Valhalla. I went there as a kid, had no idea. Later, Mom filled me in. Sally wrote a book Call Me Madam. It was a run read.

[@susanwhite7474]

Didn't she have a dog she named Leland, after the son of the creators of Stanford University?

[@sw_9_9_9]

She has her own wiki page, and yes, Leland her dog appears to have have been named after the son of the creators of Stanford University (Leland Stanford Jr. died of typhoid fever aged 15).

[@Nunavuter1]

I just made the linguistic connection between "stew" (to sit in hot water) and "Brothel" --- the liquid (broth) being made when you stew something. Amazing how language works.

[@ShannonSouthAfrica]

I think the term comes from the term broth. You'd go to a tavern for a bowl of broth and you had a little something on the side....

[@BoojeeRedneck]

Same!!

[@daniellehutchinson5724]

Bone broth 😂

[@thomasjackson2223]

If you are talking about the "drinking bath water" fetish: ewwwww

[@fordhouse8b]

That is not where the term brothel comes from. Brothel was a Middle English word for a worthless person or a prostitute, and is related to an earlier Old English words meaning worthless, degenerate or deteriorate, or good for nothing, wretch. So originally a brothel house was the house of degenerate person/prostitute. The house part was simply later dropped, and the word came to mean the place rather than the people found there.

[@andersonic]

All this time I never realized medieval "courtly love" was extramarital. From a modern lens it sounded like aesthetic bachelors swooning poetically over their idealized ladies. That's probably a Victorian romantic view of the middle ages.

[@pamjames9077]

Fantastic video, I loved the fact that brought The Millers Wife into the mix. That story brings back memories of high school, the teacher reading it and blushing 😂😂

[@countalma9800]

Finally, someone busted the myth of Medieval people bathing "twice in their lifetime"! Interesting episode. Thank you!

[@davidl3904]

Well they didn't really "bust" it, they just said it wasn't true but not what their sources were or if it was true for everyone.

[@ericbrown1101]

I thought that was just a story about Queen Isabella of Spain specifically.

[@HerveBoisde]

I honestly think that capitalism tries to spread a lot of myths about feudal times to make it seem so much more dirty, depressing and poor than it really was, for the benefit of keeping the masses content with what they currently have.

[@aries6776]

I could never see why that would be true. If you look at people in really deprived regions of the world today with no access to running water, they will still often bathe regularly in nearby water sources. I feel like the only time people wouldn't bathe as regularly is if they really couldn't because of limited access to water. We didn't evolve our sense of smell over millions of years just to ignore bad smells, it served an evolutionary purpose for our survival as a species.

[@bobjohnson1633]

You don't need to bathe everything. Just get in the primary dirty spots and you need a couple gallons of clear water.

[@vancouverterry9142]

Years ago, the comedienne Erma Bombeck wrote a book "Motherhood, the Second Oldest Profession".

[@vancouverterry9142]

@JZ's Best Friend Good one, Man, good one. It was all one string-on sentence in my notification window so I puzzled over it. But to see it on two separate lines, yes I get it . My compliments on your nuanced sense of universals. Cheers!

[@heidimeigs5192]

I’ve read it. 😄

[@jchow5966]

This os def\one of the best history docs!!!! Thank you fir tor this post & all uf the others too. ☮️

[@EpicHistoryoftime]

"This video provides a comprehensive overview of the key events in this particular wartime period. It's an excellent resource for anyone looking to understand the historical context of these conflicts."

[@LeonCouch]

This was a fun video. My first real dive into this topic occurred in undergraduate music history class, where the mix of texts and such quickly demonstrated that the affluent classes (who left us written music) had different ideas sex, sacred/secular, etc. I began to quickly realize that European cultures all the way through the Renaissance had extremely different perceptions of the cosmos, morality, and so forth; and, how we often approached the music and leftover texts with modern questions and attitudes that weren't of primary interest to the writers. We also make a mistake that these writers were try to develop music and culture into what it became in later time periods, when we make up histories to explain all the evidence left to us.

[@revanofkorriban1505]

What was the class called? Just curious, I took a class fitting your description. We had a good laugh about Orlande de Lassus’s tad lewd song matara, mia cara (kzbin.info/www/bejne/rZ2YYpyJiZ5rnqM).

[@B_Bodziak]

​​@@revanofkorriban1505 The OP literally says "music history" as an undergrad. The class was likely listed as "Music History", perhaps, even a 101/102

[@revanofkorriban1505]

@@B_Bodziak "a music history class" refers to the subject, not the specific course title. And you might want to drop the pretentious language. You don't know any more than me.

[@rglittle6]

"We tend to think about sex work as a modern invention." Really? I thought we call it "the oldest profession in the world" 🤔

[@LadyRavenhaire]

No, It's not the oldest profession. The oldest profession was hunter/gatherer. Prostitution is the oldest exploitation.

[@floydvaughn836]

Sex work is code for prostitution. Sex worker is code for prostitute. New Speak. Kind of like People of Color is new Speak for Colored People. See how this works?

[@757Bricksquad]

We do

[@lukeet331]

Yeah I'm with you I never thought it was modern at all

[@norituk9824]

@Ryan L - I thought sex was invented by Madonna. She seems to think so.

[@TanukiOfficial]

2:48 The speaker was censored, so I didn't know what she was saying about Grape Lane: "In the city of York, for instance, Grapcvnt Lane - *grāp is the Old English word for grope* -was renamed as Grape Lane. Bristol's 'Gropecount Lane', recorded by that form in the late fifteenth century had been contracted to Grope Lane by the 1540s, sometimes then being euphemised to 'Grape Lane'." "Cvnt" was the censored word that I've misspelled.

[@misst.e.a.187]

The AI is American, so butt sensitive about words like grope - which isn't even an expletive

[@misst.e.a.187]

Now the C-word was used with flourish back then. It was a sexual description then as now

[@TanukiOfficial]

@misst.e.a.187 Very true. The AI is very dumb to not recognize that common words should not be treated as profanity.

[@musclecactus5183]

That was my first thought when she said that. Gropecunt Lane was what I remembered hearing years ago

[@judypasqualone3819]

I thought it was cock….meaning part of the name of the street or location…like grape lane. All names for “that “ area!

[@CasualObserver579]

Really enjoyed that! fun and informative!

[@sothic23]

It's just so awesome to see this kind of high quality, captivating historical documentary on KZbin! Sincere thanks and kudos for the History Hit crew! 👍❤

[@emicaron]

Educational AND entertaining, loved this! I really appreciate their way of speaking about history, making it approachable and fun to learn about.

[@bluebluelectricblue]

Maybe John was gay 🤔

[@KingsPriest]

This was historically inaccurate and a farce. This was purely a propaganda piece on normalizing immoral deviant sex. The anti-Church bias is grotesquely apparent. This is how the godless see and think. Between the fake giggles and laughter the straight up lies are insulting. She found only a single person who might be trans and without any other corroborating evidence states it was everywhere and common. Huh? This is suppose to be scholarly? Wake up people if you cant see through this then it's probably too late for you and your conscious is seared. You are on the same ship, it's on fire and is going down and you don't even know it. Very sad.

[@deanne1671]

If school had of been this interesting, I'd have a PhD!

[@SlimRhyno]

Educational AND entertaining?! Why, that also perfectly describes all of the best sex in my life! Hmm... so what does that say about me? 🫂😅

[@SwissTrippin]

@@SlimRhyno nothing your profile name hasn't already 😅

[@NomenFugazi]

Without antibiotics and condoms it must have been like russian roulette.

[@larsliamvilhelm]

There's a reason why "sex only after marriage" was common practice...

[@dylancrosby2451]

​@@larsliamvilhelmhuh, interesting. I'd always thought of that as a religious practice, so it never occurred to me that there could be another reason. It makes sense tbh.

[@larsliamvilhelm]

@@dylancrosby2451 Yup. It was in part due to religion, but probably even more so having to do with pure pragmatism, and the fundamental understanding that sex produces children and you should always treat it as such.

[@NietzscheanMan]

​@@dylancrosby2451a lot of religious rules have very practical and naturally evolved reasons behind them.

[@dantekanter5851]

Condoms existed. Not exactly a sophisticated piece of technology! They were made of sheep’s bladder.

[@michellestratford9753]

I want a list of those pick up lines!! They're fabulous!😅😂. Great video!❤️

[@Michael-bf1dt]

Hi Michelle how are you. Greetings from Ireland. It’s a good video. Best wishes to you 👍🙏😊 Michael

[@LivingInCloud1]

What an excellent and balanced episode. No judging, just facts delivered in a laid back format. Loved it.

[@subicstationditosailor4053]

"Laid" back..... 😉

[@mehere6865]

saw what you did there hehehe

[@47StormShadow]

No judging? Did you listen to it? The whole time she was talking about the churches views on sexuality it was very clear that she views them in a negative light. Tbh I feel pretty judged.

[@jkkimora6350]

@@47StormShadow i think thats just your fault. the church had a lot of power and a negative view on sexuality, that is just a fact. if you are someone open minded like her of course you're going to have a negative view on how the church was back then

[@47StormShadow]

@@jkkimora6350 if you mean some people in the church had a negative view of sex, like Augustine that's fine. He was a wounded man. Saying the church as a whole had a negative view simply isn't true. Aquinas, which she gets wrong by the way, held that sex always was pleasurable and that is a good thing. Moreover I'd ask you to supply an official doctrine ( as opposed to any random Catholics opinion) that states the sex is an odious necessity. There are certain puritan or Nostic groups that DO hold that view and even some Catholics then and today still seem to think that way but youve for to under there is a big difference between that and making the claim that the church as a whole held a negative view. The only way I could see you being correct is if you hold that saying fornication is a sin is defacto negative. If that's the case I have no shot of arguing you out of the point of view. Best case scenario I could make a case that it's not always cut and dry.

[@ScrogginHausen]

Augustine was a Manichean gnostic who believed the material world was evil, including sex, before converting to Christianity. He still maintained and taught some of his former attitudes which influenced Aquinas and John Calvin (the latter is another subject). The thing is he did have what we would consider today a common-law wife.

[@mrsrudo]

I love this duo, SO much. Well done!

[@Wokerati]

she s the reason i’m interested in medieval period ! she’s so good at explaining and making history interesting! she and Ruth Goodman should do a series together !

[@patriciavasara1051]

"Marrying is sex work but one man at a time" 🤣😂. Gold.

[@markfilipas1763]

"So, what is sinful about sex? Purely pleasure." Yep, that sums up the sadistic psychology of orthodox religions. Well written piece : )

[@70newlife]

No not religions. Only European Christians which were about 5% of the world. In fact if you remember Muslims and hindus and others were considered licentious by Europeans. Don't project your problems on others.

[@notrius7754]

All religions and cultures of the world make sex extremely taboo, why? Because by living and learning for centuries and milleniums they've realized that constant pursuit of sex makes people weak, useless, miserable and deprived, this is why they see things like this: Sex = pleasure, pleasure = avoidence of hard work and purpouse = corruption = evil.

[@ash_11117]

No. The main reason for the prohibitions around it is because it is our belief that any sexual act that isn’t between a married man and women for the purpose of procreation is a sin.

[@dpspike9368]

If we had professors like Dr. Lister, I would still be studying at the university.

[@Not_a_witch]

The church’s rules around sex are funny considering they all directly contradict the Bible. The Bible says to not deny your partner from sex, which would mean it isn’t purely for the purpose of making children, but also to strengthen the relationship between husband and wife

[@michelles2299]

Or its controlling

[@Heavyisthecrown]

Very true. This is back when the church was super evil and more about political control unfortunately. Luckily today most churches are more about helping and have zero control over their members. My church is very very given and everything is about forgiveness and loving everyone. Nothing about rules or questions about things you do.

[@edbecker696]

I just found this site, one year AFTER it was posted. Some of those Medieval "pickup lines " at around 9 minutes are funny, others GREAT! Is there a collection of these, maybe in a coffee-table book?

[@sumcrazychic2832]

I love the way you ladies bring it to the light without casting shame or stones. 6 minutes in and I adore you both.

[@Raymondgogolf]

Hi sumcrazychic I hope my comment didn't sound as a form of privacy invasion your comment tells of a wonderful woman with a beautiful heart which led me to comment I don't normally write in the comment section but I think you deserve this complement. If you don’t mind can we be friends? Thanks God bless you….🌹🌹🌹🌹

[@Pub4si]

@@Raymondgogolf bruh

[@JustDaniel6764]

​@@Raymondgogolf Raymond you've copy and pasted this comment to numerous people 😂😂 What are you playing at

[@whatsinaname11]

Pompeii is amazing, and eye opening.

[@cherienugent9587]

It's life, it's history

[@DavidTasselTots]

I hate how the medieval pickup line I remember most, was the one that everyone hated. "I am an ambassador sent to you from the court of love"

[@wartgin]

I liked that one the best although I don't think it would work as a pickup line (too over-the-top and cheesy) but in a Valentine or love letter in an existing relationship ❤.

[@Emily_M81]

Vienna really put a new meaning to "coming with bells on" lol...

[@Jay-ql4gp]

This was so interesting, thank you!

[@k8marlowe]

Fascinating! I got my degree in history, but I’ve learned so much just from this one episode. Medieval people are suddenly so relatable! 😁

[@stewartstubbs5278]

History is nothing but Lies. You wasted your time & energy.

[@lylemitchell1991]

​@@user-oy3yo7qe6o Thats not what she said.

[@stevenschnepp576]

I really hope that degree was just an associate's or focused on a different period, because this is a really surface-level documentary.

[@k8marlowe]

@@stevenschnepp576 😏Wow. Really? It was a BA. But, my focus was on minorities in the southern u.s.. I wanted to put my mind and energy into cultures that have traditionally been overlooked. I certainly didn’t have much interest learning about an era that’s been exhaustively researched.

[@jacqueline8559]

​​@@k8marloweBig deal. A basic level degree, where you racked up both debt and alcohol, to emerge with a useless qualification and nano chance of securing a decent job, never mind a career. Unless you're joining that well-trod road, of all the " I've got a rubbish degree " graduates, ...TEACHING 😂😂😂

[@omicroneridani7456]

Every video with Professor Janega is so damn worth watching. Certainly not the only historian I personally appreciate, but one of the most effective and enthralling, on a screen.

[@Shirumoon]

I've always had a fascination for the European medieval times so this way a really fun and educational watch!

[@moonfire41]

This was a fun one. I was also imagining the court jesters doing their routines around that subject too. Telling a raunchy tale while juggling. There was one who served a medieval king who always farted at the end.

[@Bleachman555]

This might be the best single piece of content I've ever seen on KZbin. Truly amazing.

[@ShoeboxNinjasInc]

"Which is sex work, one man at a time." Gold.

[@scottamori3188]

These videos are quite well done.

[@thoughtful_criticiser]

I'm watching this video during the week that my daughter's school, founded in medieval times, is allowing me to go through the library's older books. I will keep a lookout in the margins!

[@dewilew2137]

I can’t believe there’s other people who actually think about things like this other than myself. Also, I can’t be the only person who was confused about why she kept referring to Courtney Love. It wasn’t until far into the video that I realized she was saying “courtly love”. 😅

[@narcisoanasui246]

LOL

[@Debbie1304]

same!!

[@jamesmansfield9276]

Yesssss I was like WTF DOES SHE HAVE TO DO WITH THIS?!?!😂😂😂

[@OneRandomLeo]

Same

[@slydale]

"Me", too

[@dianebannister4591]

This was an exceptionally interesting video!

[@mjowta]

Awesome channel great info thanks!!!!

[@millardfillmore241]

I really enjoyed this video, the humor in helped bring the middle ages to life. It was like having two smart friends over telling you junk while you had a laugh.

[@emily9913]

I’ve always been curious about how things revolving around sex was like back in those days. Thank you so much for a great video! Learnt so much 😊

[@muzak913]

@@Michael-bf1dt man down, man down

[@esmeecampbell7396]

27:30 so Courtley Love literature has a "this could really destroy our dynastic succession" trope and it is the Medieval equivalent of "oh no step bro I'm stuck in the washing machine" 🤣

[@pastyman001]

In Banbury, the centre of the town is Parsons st., where Oliver Cromwell was based in the Olde Reine Deer Inn during the Civil War, Battle of Edge Hill . It used to be called Grope Cunt Lane.

[@kimquinn7728]

Somehow the Church overlooked Deut. 24:5, “When a man is newly married, he should not serve in the army or be given any other duties. He should remain exempt for one year and *stay at home and bring joy to his wife*. JOY. Unfortunately, what was taught in Scripture was twisted by the church. Nowhere in the Bible does it say if you marry and there are no children AND on top of that you become too old to bear children, you must abstain. No. Sex between married people was proper and to be partaken of with consideration and joy. They have so much to answer for!

[@cantrip7]

What a cozy, informative doc. Was visually stimulating without going overboard. Wonderful job.

[@alumbo]

I LOVED this video. Presenters were amazing. They made the medieval scene not so distant after all.

[@Danthehistoryman]

Fascinating episode showing how similar we all are then and now. I think my friends and I would have fit right in back then 😂

[@jacoboleary9076]

Medieval Prague was so iconic. Streaking priests, tossing people out of tower windows, horoscopes on giant clocks... what a time to be alive

[@briankocheraabcdt4628]

Reading Chaucer in English Literature class gave me a glimpse of how things were. Specifically, The Wyfe of Bath's story in Canterbury Tales was no doubt more ribald and saucy in Middle English than the Modern English translation. Still the translation does offer a good glimpse into medieval people's sexual appetites.

[@kevineholmes9572]

Wyfe of Bath and I would have been besties

[@NicoBGC]

Love the time! Still remember having to learn by heart the prologue in the accent. Over 30+ years later, I can still recite it... Whan that Aprill with his shoures soote / The droghte of March hath perced to the roote / And bathed every veyne in swich licour / Of which vertu engendred is the flour....

[@rgnotdead]

Prologue @@NicoBGC The Merchant's Tale made me laugh, everyone thinks The Miller's Tale is the bawdiest, try reading The reeve's Tale.

[@Apophis150]

I knew before I clicked it would be Eleanor presenting this 😂 excellent content as always!

[@AngelicusImmortus]

As usual, an excellent video.

[@modestlyneutral]

This is really interesting. Well done.

[@Clayshooter107]

This was Great! I laughed along with these two as they are comfortable laying it all out there for us to appreciate. Thanks, Ladies!!

[@bonniebickett4520]

Did you also notice that in the pictures/ paintings that , I would guess, 85% of the women were redheads? Aka witches....... lol

[@Abebe345]

The Professor takes you into the time, sense and sensibility, along with arming you with the facts needed. Right in. Brilliant ability, work.

[@MadameSomnambule]

I got into a comic book series set in the middle ages and I’ve been looking into irl medieval history since then out of curiosity. It’s really cool to get even just a small look at what everyday life was like and how our social norms have changed since then.

[@elizaveta157]

Mind sharing the book series' name?

[@kimjongun2081]

@@elizaveta157I’m curious

[@WorkingProgress17]

This was so much fun to watch and quite a different perspective from what a lot of us are educated to believe.

[@hollyjhager]

Wonderful translation of real scholarly history into something interesting for the general public-love it!

[@KingsPriest]

This was historically inaccurate and a farce. This was purely a propaganda piece on normalizing immoral deviant sex. The anti-Church bias is grotesquely apparent. This is how the godless see and think. Between the fake giggles and laughter the straight up lies are insulting. She found only a single person who might be trans and without any other corroborating evidence states it was everywhere and common. Huh? This is suppose to be scholarly? Wake up people if you cant see through this then it's probably too late for you and your conscious is seared. You are on the same ship, it's on fire and is going down and you don't even know it. Very sad.

[@ahobimo732]

The fear of pleasure is a crippling psychological illness. To run and hide from something so fundamental to human life is bound to leave you hopelessly confounded, miserable and a stranger to yourself.

[@themanifester1807]

But what good do indiscriminate sex and drugs of all sorts do to modern society? There is no restriction on any of this “pleasure”, and here we are in decline. I, personally, am celibate and my only drug is sugar in coffee and occasional cookie. And if you see me on the street, you would think that I could have just about any guy. And it’s not a matter of libido or fear of pleasure, it’s a matter of choice for me. These “pleasures” are greatly overrated. 🤷🏻‍♀️ There is nothing pleasurable in drinking a pack of beer or having sex multiple times per day. Just waste of health, money and time, lol.

[@ahobimo732]

@@themanifester1807 Nothing in my comment was recommending "indiscriminate sex and drugs of all sorts". That's not something I'm remotely interested in. Incidentally, I'm also celibate at present and have been for years. The reason is simple: sex for me, is something that is incredibly personal, and I would only ever want to do it with someone I am extremely close to. Since I don't have a relationship like that, I don't have sex. But I think, in the context of a relationship, sex can be a very healthy, fulfilling aspect of life. Many cultures (medieval Europe being one of them) regard sexuality with a level of fear, shame and repression that is entirely unnecessary, in my opinion. It's a form of mental illness.

[@themanifester1807]

@@ahobimo732 got you!

[@ahobimo732]

@@themanifester1807 I don't mean to be rude, but do you mind if i ask why you're voluntarily celibate? Is it a religious vow? Are you asexual? . It just seems like an unusual choice otherwise.

[@themanifester1807]

@@ahobimo732 oh, no, I am a very passionate person. And no such religious vows. It’s just that I got into tarot about 3-4 years ago, because of which I started understanding human nature and men better. Well, now I understand men better, and have become kinder and more empathetic to their needs, weaknesses, etc., but, unfortunately, I also lost my interest in them. 🤷🏻‍♀️ As I walk the streets, or look at men at work, etc., they just don’t spark my interest as men anymore. Perhaps, the problem is that I consider myself to be quite different from other people, and my man would have to be someone “special” as well. Someone who conquered his demons, for example, or survived despite all odds, would do. Lol! I don’t expect the situation to improve, however. As I expect to do better and better financially - and that attracts a slew of men with ulterior motifs.

[@Moja_Bosna_Ponosna]

Medieval period has really unique yet fascinating things to get pleasure for themselves, unlike in this era where pleasure is really easy-to-use. Shout out to this channel for the very nice information!😸

[@ginao6810]

Totally. You gotta take what you can get. You may not be able to afford a life of luxury, but an orgasm is free 👍

[@tfrtrouble]

"We tend to think of sex work as this really modern invention"?! Who has ever thought that? Prostitution is regularly referred to (rightly or wrongly) as the world's oldest profession. Historical records and literature from across the world are full of references to sex workers or laws about them. I've never heard of anyone thinking it's a modern invention.

[@dennisbarker5986]

I really enjoy the way they did this . Very educational but very hilarious at the same time .

[@kevinmorgan2968]

I don’t understand how this woman does not have her own show.

[@alanwayte432]

Either of them, they are easy and informative to listen to

[@catalina-b]

It the presenter doesn’t back up her statements with any proof

[@antoniobroccoliporto4774]

The platform shoes were common with women to prevent getting excrement on ones’s clothes and it would raise you and the hem of your dress off the filthy city streets…not exclusive to prostitute.

[@Articulate99]

Interesting essay, thank you.

[@bobbygreen2134]

Dr. Eleanor Janega is wonderful. I saw her do a historian reacts to medieval movies and just listening to her talk about history was awesome love her enthusiastic delivery as she talks about this stuff

[@resnonverba137]

Shame she can't speak English properly.

[@jamesCam69]

Very interesting! I didn't even realize this mattered to me! Lol! Eleanor is such a natural in the camera's eye! Her and Dr. Kate both are excellent in this, and with their chemistry, I wouldn't be surprised if they were great friends!

[@djlondon7956]

Just a fantastic Programme and Presenters 😍🌞👌🏻👍🏻

[@sagnikkarmakar8429]

You know better than me the term "Pregnancy Tourism" which was practiced during the mediaeval periods.. Please make video on this subject.❤

[@onestrangeanimal3212]

Wow, this completely changed my views on medieval people's relationship to sex. Truly interesting and I was really relieved to learn that they did enjoy themselves.

[@t.c.a.3335]

what many people don't realize nor is it taught in high school literature... I don't know if it's taught in college level English Literature... but Romance writings like that of Lord Byron (who was married) were not based on his love for his wife... it was based on his "Romantic" liaisons with other women... any married couple will tell you that "romance" is fleeting... Romance is the chemical rush of newness... of trying to "lure" and impress another to become interested and flirt... to engage in cerebral jousting with the intension and thrill of the "hunt" and "conquest" and that is NOT a one-sided game... Women show their "assets" to attract attention either with the goal of marriage or "just for the fun of it" and the challenge... same as men... if a person is "inspired" they can create reams of romantic dialogue... but once that chemical stimulation is gone they need a New Challenge to get that feeling back... that is a True Romantic... they may marry, but they must have that continual romantic stimulation for emotional survival...

[@gregoryalan9757]

I was checking the comments and I unearthed your profile, and though you seemed worth talking to, so i added you. Hope you don't mind?

[@KingsPriest]

This was historically inaccurate and a farce. This was purely a propaganda piece on normalizing immoral deviant sex. The anti-Church bias is grotesquely apparent. This is how the godless see and think. Between the fake giggles and laughter the straight up lies are insulting. She found only a single person who might be trans and without any other corroborating evidence states it was everywhere and common. Huh? This is suppose to be scholarly? Wake up people if you cant see through this then it's probably too late for you and your conscious is seared. You are on the same ship, it's on fire and is going down and you don't even know it. Very sad.

[@Lo55790]

Yes, we know men view marriage as co-opting a woman to slave away for them and they have no respect for their devotion. Thats why it’s happening less. Finally. Thanks for stating the obvious.

[@Yellow-Rose]

@@t.c.a.3335 I agree with you on continual romantic stimulation. There's nothing more romantic than true love. It doesn't matter if you're newlyweds, or if you've been married for 30 years, you can still do little romantic things for each other. However the hunt and conquest can be in keeping your partner and making the relationship last. That's the true conquest. I don't believe romance is about winning someone over and then discarding them. To me that's just deceit and lust.

[@lohphat]

History is why I appreciate antibiotics, anesthesia, and the rest of modern medicine.

[@thatdude1066]

My love for history makes me appreciate the present and all it has to offer.

[@fangslaughter1198]

Especially anesthesiology.

[@BlessYourHeart254]

Same 👏👏👏. Nice to not have died in childbirth as many women did then.

[@nancytestani1470]

Absolutely…

[@skylance25]

I like soap and toilet paper

[@salvatoreleonard3201]

Congrats on your 700k Subs here to many more Subs

[@michaelwinter742]

Saw this video on my feed and I couldn’t stop clicking.

[@erictaylor5462]

I like the pick-up line, "Excuse me, do you have a bee?" ... "A bee, as in a honey bee." ... "Oh, I just figured you must have a bee. Because beauty is in the eye of the bee holder."

[@BhutJolokias]

Thanks for a fantastic and interesting discussion from two knowledgeable ladies.

[@Fete_Fatale]

8:40 I can't help but feel that there's an obvious double entendre in that 'concealed wound'

[@GOLDESCAFLOWNE]

Excellent documentary 😎

[@soncereahawkins6934]

Omg!! This was amazing!! Well done, i was entertained and educated. This was so well done! 👍🏻 Cheers to you!

[@Michael-bf1dt]

Hi Soncerea how are you. Greetings from Ireland 🇮🇪 to USA 🇺🇸. It’s a good video. Best wishes for a lovely day 😊🙏 Michael