Have you ever wondered how people made it through the heat without today's modern technology? Without air conditioners, freezers, and other cooling-off techniques?
Well, turns out a lot of thought went in to staying cool. Every thing from the construction to the location of a person's home (at least the upper class) was carefully planned to maximize cool weather. For example, homes were built with eco-friendly materials that changed with the seasons--warming in the winter and cooling in the summer. There were also copper pipes throughout the house pumping cold water to cool through the walls.
Also, areas of the house were specifically open to flowing fountains, water gardens and other cooling effects. Time was also spent in pools and large outdoor baths. Aside from the main homes, pavilions were built in openly airy spaces to maximize cross breezes and often located near bodies of water.
As for the lower classes, they stuck to hanging in the shade and also dipping their feet in water wells for little jolts of cold. Most medieval buildings, such as forts and even jails, had open windows to allow for air circulation.
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