Medicine: examining urine
The medieval Church
Medieval Surgery
Rural life: the lazy ploughman
Friar playing music
Dante's Divine Comedy
Harvesting acorns
Living and dead Princes
Golden Haggadah
Noah in the Holkham Bible
Apothecary shop
City walls
Lord at supper
Peasants work the land
The Last Judgement
Hundred Years War
Demons fall into Hell
Chronicle of the Black Death
Genesis picture book
Medieval encyclopedia
Sir Gawain & the Green Knight
Peasants' Revolt
Scottish freedom
English cookery manuscript
Medieval towns were normally enclosed by protective walls, and outsiders could only access them through guarded gates. Successful towns were often located on major roads or waterways, helping the flow of trade and transport. This image is based on an English town, although it is meant to represent Constantinople. Surrounded with a curtain wall dotted with towers and arrow slits, the city is crowded with buildings. The glamour of the town is suggested by the dancers emerging from one of its gates, watched by admiring ladies.
The image is from the Luttrell Psalter which, due to its rich illustrations of everyday life in the 14th century, is one of the most famous medieval manuscripts in the British Library.
Shelfmark: Add. 42130 f.164v