Philip I of Castile

What people wore

Flemish peasant men's clothing

Flemish peasant men typically wore a long linen undershirt, a tight-fitting doublet secured with ties, and snug hose tied to the doublet to keep them in place. A codpiece, made of the same fabric as the hose, was worn over the front opening for modesty.

Daily life

Elementary schooling in villages

Almost every village or parish had at least one elementary school where children paid a few pennies per month per subject. Tuition for poor children was often covered by the Church or philanthropists.

Work

Centralized labour markets for workers

Labour markets were held at central city spots, such as squares or churchyards, where workers had to present themselves before the morning bell. Workers were forbidden from negotiating with multiple masters or asking for work once the market closed.

Music

Margaret of Austria's rare dance book

Margaret of Austria possessed a dance book from around 1500 containing 58 songs with gold staves and silver notes, which included dance instructions in letters below the music.

At the table

Staple foods for ordinary families

Since bread was expensive to bake, many poor families relied on a porridge made from rye, wheat, or barley mixed with water. Eating breakfast as a general meal was not yet common, though children and the sick were sometimes allowed bread dipped in beer or wine.

Getting around

Organized local transport market in Brabant

Local transport of commodities in Brabant was highly organized despite lacking corporations, relying on both professional carters and occasional transporters hired through tenders or temporary contracts. There was no price advantage for farmers offering transport services, as all contractors were paid at competitive market rates.

What it cost

Cost of staple foods

A kilogram of rye bread cost between 1 and 2 stuivers, while a liter of milk or beer also cost 1 stuiver.