Why middle ages? Most people born in villages of many countries during 50's or 60's would not have seen electricity, running water, toilets, roads, radios, candy, plastic toys, shoes etc until decades later.
Just like how the writings from ancient times were mostly about royal and religious figures, historians of modern times mostly looked at the history of the western world, Europe specifically.
By projecting what I saw in the remote parts of India in the 70's, I can say the following about peasants of old times:
* they didn't care about recording their lives or their appearances in any form except as folklores that were passed on through generations. The lores were sung by a special class of society telling children of higher classes, about their ancestors.
* they didn't care about having distinct names for family members
* they didn't like being portrayed (as in photographed)
* they didn't like outsiders
* they don't record their birthdays
* they didn't try to avoid risk and demography stayed young, with about 10 children per woman.
* if there is any pandemic or famine, they deserted villages and moved to new places
* there is no money involved in transactions. Grain, jewels, land, water, bride and livestock were the stores of value
Why middle ages? Most people born in villages of many countries during 50's or 60's would not have seen electricity, running water, toilets, roads, radios, candy, plastic toys, shoes etc until decades later.
Just like how the writings from ancient times were mostly about royal and religious figures, historians of modern times mostly looked at the history of the western world, Europe specifically.
By projecting what I saw in the remote parts of India in the 70's, I can say the following about peasants of old times:
* they didn't care about recording their lives or their appearances in any form except as folklores that were passed on through generations. The lores were sung by a special class of society telling children of higher classes, about their ancestors.
* they didn't care about having distinct names for family members
* they didn't like being portrayed (as in photographed)
* they didn't like outsiders
* they don't record their birthdays
* they didn't try to avoid risk and demography stayed young, with about 10 children per woman.
* if there is any pandemic or famine, they deserted villages and moved to new places
* there is no money involved in transactions. Grain, jewels, land, water, bride and livestock were the stores of value