Medieval Clothing · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Medieval Clothes: Rich and Poor

History · Medieval Times · ages 5-7
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. What kind of cloth did nobles usually wear?

    • Wool and linen
    • Silk and fur
    • Paper and cardboard

  2. What kind of cloth did peasants usually wear?

    • Wool and linen
    • Silk and fur
    • Cotton and lace

  3. Medieval clothes had zippers and buttons like we do today.

    Circle one:   True   False

  4. A peasant needs to fasten his tunic. What would he most likely use?

    • A zipper
    • A belt
    • Snap buttons

  5. Who is more likely a noble: someone in grey wool, or someone in purple silk?

    • The grey wool person
    • The purple silk person
    • You cannot tell

  6. You could guess if someone was rich or poor just by looking at their clothes.

    Circle one:   True   False

  7. You see a person in rough brown wool with a rope belt. What does this tell you about them?

    • They are probably a king
    • They are probably a noble
    • They are probably a peasant

  8. Mia says peasants wore bright purple silk gowns every day. What is wrong with her idea?

    • Purple silk was costly and worn by nobles, not peasants
    • Peasants never wore any clothes
    • Purple silk did not exist in medieval times
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Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Medieval Clothes: Rich and Poor W1-mt_R1xLS1c2Pg-s1

  1. Silk and fur · Nobles could pay for soft silk and warm fur, unlike peasants.
  2. Wool and linen · Peasants used wool and linen because these cloths were cheap and easy to make.
  3. False · Medieval people had no zippers. Buttons were new and costly, so most people used laces, pins, and belts instead.
  4. A belt · Peasants used belts, laces, and pins. Buttons cost too much for a peasant, and zippers did not exist yet.
  5. The purple silk person · Bright, costly cloth like purple silk showed that a person was rich.
  6. True · Bright, costly cloth meant rich, while plain, rough cloth meant poor.
  7. They are probably a peasant · Plain, rough cloth and simple belts were common among peasants, not nobles.
  8. Purple silk was costly and worn by nobles, not peasants · Peasants wore plain wool and linen. Bright silk was for nobles who could pay for it.
Worksheet · LightMySky