Medieval jobs?

Sleepy · 13-12-2013 12:55PM #1

I've been reading/watching a lot of fantasy over the past few years, which is nearly always set in a world that's about technologically equivalent to medieval times. Or often in post-apocalyptic worlds where humanity is forced to go back to a more agrarian society.

It's gotten me to thinking about how career options were far simpler in those circumstances and about what profession I might like to have followed in medieval days.

For me, the answer would be Blacksmith. TBH, I think I'd still love to do it today but haven't the time or money to take it up as a hobby / train in it.

So, denizens of AH, what would you do in an agrarian society?

Farm the land? Tavern Wench? Farrier? Fletcher? Thatcher?

Red Kev · 13-12-2013 12:57PM

Fletcher ? The careers guidance Brother in the CBS back in the day suggested I try fletching but I didn't fancy it.

The Diabolical Monocle · 13-12-2013 12:58PM

I am ...eh... how you say. I have wife and she is make with ...the plough.

mloc123 · 13-12-2013 01:00PM

Red Kev wrote: »

Fletcher ? The careers guidance Brother in the CBS back in the day suggested I try fletching but I didn't fancy it.

At least he didn't suggest feltching..

Sleepy · 13-12-2013 01:01PM

It's hardly an exhaustive list, just a few I thought of off the top of my head...

Femme_Fatale · 13-12-2013 01:01PM

Oh tavern wench without a doubt. All those outfits you'd pay a fortune for in some fetish gaff nowadays, and all that ale - no different to many a Saturday night today!

jimgoose · 13-12-2013 01:02PM

'Twould have to be Blacksmith, my leige. Master of Fire, Finagler of Iron, Walloper of the Anvil. It seems to have been about the most interesting job available back then for a fella like me. :cool:

danniemcq · 13-12-2013 01:02PM

Gotta agree with you Sleepy, Blacksmith would be one of the top ones.

Be hard work but you are treated well and if you are great at it you will be moved up through the ranks.

Fairly low risk too, even if your town/castle is captured its likely that you will be useful so maybe escape death.

SEPT 23 1989 · 13-12-2013 01:03PM

Alchemist

jimgoose · 13-12-2013 01:03PM

Femme_Fatale wrote: »

Oh tavern wench without a doubt. All those outfits you'd pay a fortune for in some fetish gaff nowadays, and all that ale - no different to many a Saturday night today!

A-ha! Ye Blacksmith here - Ale-Wife, a firkin of your finest ale, fairly lively!

biko · 13-12-2013 01:04PM

Stone mason, and I'd build a Cathedral.

danniemcq · 13-12-2013 01:08PM

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

Alchemist

I had thought of that but then knowing now what they didn't know then (mercury for example is highly toxic and really messes your brain up and is absorbed through the skin) i'd be very wary of it.

If ignorance was bliss though then yeah spend all day messing with crap trying to turn lead into gold and probably getting paid a lot for it

DeadHand · 13-12-2013 01:08PM

I'll be Ramsay Bolton if no one's called it already...

Duggy747 · 13-12-2013 01:10PM

A wizard with +10 defense and an invisibility cloak.

--Kaiser-- · 13-12-2013 01:10PM

I'd be the fella cutting people's heads off

maxwell smart · 13-12-2013 01:12PM

Executioner or Witch Hunter/Finder

You would get to meet some interesting people with a tale or two to tell!

Ole Rodrigo · 13-12-2013 01:13PM

Project Manager on building a castle. Business Analyst working for the King.

Or a Baker. Bread was nice in those days. I'd invent butter pastries and become rich and famous.

Aglomerado · 13-12-2013 01:13PM

Groom of the Stool.

Apparently a very sought after and privileged job among nobles in Tudor England!

Wouldn't fancy it myself, being in close proximity to Henry VIII's arse.

Michael D Not Higgins · 13-12-2013 01:13PM

biko wrote: »

Stone mason, and I'd build a Cathedral.

And invent a secret handshake?

emmabrighton · 13-12-2013 01:15PM

This is as close to my current job without me having to retrain - clouter (one who fixes things, a tinkerer)

Otherwise I was fairly successful as a breast feeding mommy so maybe a Wetnurse???

Can I select lady? I reckon that looks like a fairly handy number...

source

Sleepy · 13-12-2013 01:15PM

Headsman smart, you'll have to drag stonemason Biko out back... he wants to build monuments to witches!

The Diabolical Monocle · 13-12-2013 01:16PM

TOWN CRRRRRRRRRYYYYYYYYYYYAAAAAAR

HEAAAAR YEE HEAAAR YEE

BEWAARE ... SOME KNAVE HATH LEFT A FLOOOATER.

13-12-2013 01:17PM

85% of us would be peasants.

I know my place.

http://www.bl.uk/learning/histcitizen/medieval/rural/rurallife.html

Duggy747 · 13-12-2013 01:17PM

Failing not being able to be a wizard, I'd settle on IT Consultant.

RikkFlair · 13-12-2013 01:19PM

Probably a drifter, with a wine problem and busking the odd time with my lute.

gramar · 13-12-2013 01:23PM

The village idiot but it's still a fairly popular profession even nowadays.

BrokenArrows · 13-12-2013 01:24PM

--Kaiser-- wrote: »

I'd be the fella cutting people's heads off

Id be the guy getting his head cut off for calling the king a douche!

--Kaiser-- · 13-12-2013 01:39PM

BrokenArrows wrote: »

Id be the guy getting his head cut off for calling the king a douche!

You'll be needing to use less anachronistic insults, thou varlot!

dr strangelove · 13-12-2013 01:42PM

King.
I'd be the king.

You shall all bow before me

OldGoat · 13-12-2013 01:43PM

BrokenArrows wrote: »

Id be the guy getting his head cut off for calling the king a douche!

With your name I'd a thought you'd have opted for fletcher.

Personally I'd be an Earl rather then a King. All the kudos of being in the palace but without the murderous shinnanagins of dastardly princes trying to steal the throne. Earls tend to have plenty of time and money for wenching which I'm sure would have been my main pastime.
Duke could be a good choice too.
Or Viscount. I could give Viscounting a go.

smcgiff · 13-12-2013 01:51PM

Most of us have better lives now than the kings of yore. Well, the power would be nice and that Prima Nocta thing has its advantages, but would you really fancy kissing a wench from that era sans modern oral hygiene?

Would rather be who I am now, than a medieval King.

But, if I had to choose a Job, it'd probably be Sheriff - putting the Evil into Medieval!

Medieval jobs?

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