Emperor Rudolf II

What people wore

Common rural clothing in the 1500s

In the second half of the 16th century, common rural clothing for men included shirts, caps, cloaks, woollen coats, and trousers known as poctivice. Women's wardrobes comprised shirts, aprons, various types of skirts, bodices, and furs such as those made of rabbit or fox.

Daily life

Cutting eggs with human hair

A forgotten trick for cutting eggs involved using a human hair or thread held taut like a string. This method produced a cleaner cut than a knife, preventing the yolk from falling out of the white.

Work

Daily hardship and compensation structure

Daily life was characterized by persistent malnutrition and intense, day-long labor that left little room for leisure. Journeymen often lived with their masters, receiving their pay alongside food, housing, and tools as part of their compensation package.

Music

City trumpeters and tower music

City trumpeters employed by councils, such as the Old Town Council in Prague, were responsible for announcing hours and performing music from town hall towers. By 1585, instructions reveal these instrumentalists were expected to perform sophisticated polyphony like motets twice a day during warmer months.

At the table

Shared eating tools and bread plates

Diners typically used their own personal knives and spoons to eat, while a single large serving fork was shared by everyone at the table. Meat was often placed directly on top of slices of bread, which served as a rudimentary plate.

Getting around

Methods of travel and common difficulties

In the 16th century, ordinary people typically traveled on foot, on horseback, or in wagons pulled by horses or mules. Travel was slow, uncomfortable, and often dangerous due to the poor condition of paths and the presence of robbers.

What it cost

Purchasing power plummeted during the price revolution

Between 1543 and the period 1618-1620, the cost of living surged, causing the purchasing power of a thaler to drop from 30 kg of meat to only 5.6 kg.