What did medieval people do with the dead?
Many corpses left on the battlefield would, of course, be buried. Christopher Daniell’s book Death and Burial in Medieval England, 1066-1550 indicates that in the Middle Ages, people preferred to bury bodies in consecrated ground.
How were the dead treated in early traditions?
Early in the development of these funeral practices, when a person died, one of their heirs would preside with the priest over the preparation of the body for cremation. This included anointment with oils, incense, and water from the sacred Ganges River as well as chanting mantras over the body.
How did medieval Europeans feel about death?
Medieval Christians hoped for a ‘good death’, ideally at home in bed, surrounded by friends and family, and with a priest in attendance to administer the Last Rites, the final forgiveness of sin.
How did knights view death?
Both samurai and knights had death poems. Even though the poems were very different they both basically stated that death is a part of life. The samurai never questioned his after life and the knight begged for forgiveness adn mercy of his sins.
What happened to dead bodies after medieval battles?
After being stripped of their belongings the dead, and occasionally still barely living, would often be buried in mass graves (sometimes with bodies from both sides unceremoniously thrown in). However, there are accounts of battles where thousands of bodies were simply left to the elements.
Where did medieval people bury their dead?
Cemeteries
Cemeteries in Medieval times Finally, people were buried the standard six feet underground. Graves were in the courtyards of churches. Cemeteries weren’t something that was hidden away from the public. Since they were near or in churches, they were the gathering spot for the entire community.
What happened to dead bodies after war?
After being stripped of their belongings the dead, and occasionally still barely living, would often be buried in mass graves (sometimes with bodies from both sides unceremoniously thrown in). For example, human scavengers would come through and rob the dead of their teeth, which would then be used to make dentures.
What happened to all the bodies from D Day?
When the war ended, graves registration soldiers still had work to do—scouring battlefields for hastily buried bodies that had been overlooked. In the European Theater, the bodies were scattered over 1.5 million square miles of territory; in the Pacific, they were scattered across numerous islands and in dense jungles.