Roman Sanguszko

At the table

Beer as the primary beverage

Beer was the most widely consumed everyday beverage because water was often considered dirty and unsafe to drink.

What people wore

The affordable everyday suknia dress

A simple dress, known as a suknia, was a common garment for townswomen and even affluent peasant women, with a basic version costing around 1.5 Lithuanian groschen.

Getting around

Slow travel pace for pedestrians and carts

Traveling by foot or with a cart full of goods was slow, typically covering only about 25 km per day.

What it cost

Rising prices of livestock

During the 16th century, the price of common livestock such as cows tripled and pigs doubled due to a period of significant price increases.

Music

Church music education and training

By the 16th century, cathedral schools in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania taught choral singing and music, establishing the cantorship position at Vilnius Cathedral in 1522.

Daily life

Separate noble kitchens for fire safety

Noble kitchens were built as separate wooden structures away from the main living quarters to reduce the risk of fire, and they typically contained only a fireplace, a table, and two benches.