© 1993 by Society for the Social History of Medicine
Articles |
Who were Old in the Middle Ages?
* Professor of medieval History, Department of History, Tel Aviv University Ramat Aviv 69978, Israel
SUMMARY Contrary to the accepted view that people in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance were considered old from their forties, in fact they were classified as old between the ages of 60 and 70. In schemes for the division of the life-course into stages old-age begins over a wide range of ages. In some of these schemes it begins indeed, at 40; but in others its onset is at 35, 45, 50, 58, 60, or 72. Several medieval scholars and artists declared at the age of 40 that they were already old; claims are made by such persons even in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Yet the same medieval writers in writings written for other purposes, and in other moods would not always present themselves as old though they were older than 40.
In all the legislative texts which granted age-linked exemptions from military service, trial by battle, service on the town watches, and various other public duties such as payment of taxes or obligatory work, these were granted to those of 60 or 70 years of age. In various other texts as well, 60 and not 40 is the indicator of old age.
Yet this cultural attitude had only limited impact on social reality. In the absence of retirement pensions, what mattered in most people's lives was their functional capacity, rather than strict chronological age.
Keywords: ageing; medieval society; retirement; old-age; life-cycle; family; charity; pensions