We consider the Middle Ages barbaric, yet the period furnished some of our most enduring icons, including King Arthur's Round Table, knights in shining armour and the idealised noblewoman. In this vivid history of the time, the medieval world comes to life in all its rich daily experience. You can find out what people's beds were like, how often they washed, what they wore, what they cooked, how they worked, how they entertained themselves, how they wed and what life was like in a medieval village, castle or monastery. Contemporary artworks and documents further illuminate this fascinating historical era.