Jerzy Radziwiłł

What people wore

Carrying Essentials Without Pockets

Because ordinary clothing lacked pockets, both men and women carried small, pouch-shaped leather purses attached to their belts to keep needles, threads, and other small essentials.

Daily life

Modest wooden peasant homes

Peasant homesteads were modest, typically consisting of a wooden dwelling house, a granary, and a cattle-shed. Some peasants in Samogitia lived in a numas, a structure with a central fireplace rather than a stove.

Work

Taxes Paid in Kind

To meet royal tax requirements, holdings were obligated to provide specific goods in kind, such as one hen and ten eggs from every holding, or a cow from every thirty holdings. These payments could sometimes be commuted for cash at fixed rates.

Music

Sacred hymns and folk instruments

Kankles, an archaic string instrument, were believed to have protective spiritual powers and were traditionally crafted by men from mature forest wood. In church, people sang Gregorian chants and the religious hymn Bogurodzica, which was also sung by soldiers before battles.

At the table

Beer was the standard drink

Because water was often considered unsafe, beer was the most common drink for people of all social classes, and the art of distilling grain-based vodka was also introduced during this period.

Getting around

Slow travel between towns

Travel between towns was slow, and a trip between Vilnius and Kaunas, which today takes under ninety minutes, required an entire day in the 16th century. Travelers often avoided moving at night to reduce the risk of getting lost or driving off the road.

What it cost

Cost of fur garments

In the ruler's court, fox fur garments for attendants were valued at prices ranging from 22 to 100 groshi, depending on quality.