Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor

Getting around

Most people traveled primarily on foot

For the majority of people, traveling was primarily done on foot, with most individuals covering 20 to 35 kilometers per day depending on the terrain.

Daily life

Heated living spaces with limited light

The Stube was the only heated room in many homes, featuring small windows that limited light and a stove often fueled from outside to prevent smoke.

What people wore

Jewish population faced discriminatory dress regulations

Discriminatory laws compelled Jewish men to wear specific identifying markers on their clothes, such as beards or stigmatizing symbols.

Music

Boisterous folk-style dancing at festivals

During feast days and festivals, dances often included boisterous styles like the branle, which involved circles or lines of people jumping and kicking until the musician was exhausted.

At the table

Beverages and Fasting Rules

Commoners frequently drank beer, which was often brewed locally by inns or breweries and was typically darker and lower in alcohol than modern beer. During fast days, which could number up to 150 annually, consumption of meat was restricted, leading to a reliance on fish, vegetables like cabbage and turnips, and legumes.