Medieval Occupations - Armorer, Artist, Astrologer
Medieval Occupations
(Jobs in the Medieval Age)


ARMORER

The Medieval Armorer held a very important position in the workforce. Not only were his skills highly required by nobles and monarchs, but the commoners enlisted his services during times of war as well.
The Armorer was usually a blacksmith as well but as war became a more frequent event, many blacksmiths could afford to relinquish their skills of crafting metalworks and strictly pursue the field of making armor. It paid dearly for them as a suit of armor could cost the modern equivalent of $60,000.00 - $90,000.00 or even more! Armor had to be uniquely crafted to fit its wearer and as such it was considered a specialty line of work.
Most Armorers were members of the Middle Class and were often very wealthy indeed.
ARTIST

Artists were common during the Medieval Ages but only the best were conscripted by kings, nobles and the elite to produce portraits. Preserving the images and likeness of a person and his family served as a contribution to history and future generations.
The Medieval Artist often went from town to town seeking business but once an artist had a royal or noble commission and if his work was worthy, his career was made. Perhaps the two most famous Medieval artists are Michaelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci.
The mediums used by most Medieval Artists were varied. Most preferred oil-based paints that were manufactured by mixing different agents into berry-dye. Watercolors were also popular and enamel painting was in its early stages.
ASTROLOGER

The study of the stars and planets was not a new science in the Medieval Ages but it was regarded as being mystical. The Astrologer did not only use the heavens as a reference but he or she also studied the earth, the weather cycles and the seasonal patterns. It was believed that through these things a better understanding could be gained for agriculture and other social successes.
Many astrologers posed various and opposing theories. Some claimed the earth revolved around the sun, others claimed that it was the moon that revolved around the earth. In fact, part of Christopher Columbus's journey to the Americas in 1492 was partially to dispel a theory that the earth was flat.
Sometimes Astrologers were accused of practicing witchcraft as their studies took them into unorthodox techniques and discoveries. The Druids were thought to be the first to seek a true understanding of celestial bodies and experts argue that the mystical Stonehenge is nothing more than a lunar calendar.

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