Kristen, in the 1200s life was pretty difficult (and short!) for everyone but the rich and even they didn’t live that long. There was a huge gap between the landowners and the peasants who worked the land – definitely no middle or lower classes. What are simple illnesses these days meant certain death back then. Armies attacked castles with stone-throwing trebuchets (the standard siege machine for 800 years until 1350-ish) and arrows. Being a soldier meant having regular meals every day – not guaranteed to the peasants - but a relatively short life. Even so, it was a really good deal. In a few more years the Bubonic Plague swept Europe killing a third of the population (about 25 million). I’m happy where I am…