John Sigismund, Crown Prince of Poland

At the table

Rapid inflation of food prices

Food prices rose sharply during the 17th century; for example, the price of vodka in Gdańsk increased sevenfold between 1580 and 1677, and beer prices quintupled between 1550 and 1661. Due to these rising costs, most of a family's budget was spent on food.

What people wore

Valuable Noblewoman's Clothing

Seventeenth-century noblewomen's wills show that items like fur-lined coats, velvet dresses, and specific headgear such as caps and wimples were vital assets, sometimes valued higher than silver or jewelry.

Getting around

Average daily travel distance

Travel speeds were generally slow, with people on foot covering 20–25 kilometers per day and horse-drawn carriages covering 25–30 kilometers daily.

What it cost

Cost of Bread and Shoes

Basic items were affordable: bread cost less than one grosz, and a pair of shoes ranged from 9 to 24 grosze in the 17th century. In 1671, the price of a pair of shoes reached 19.1 grosze.

Music

Portable organ for street processions

For the Corpus Christi procession, strong men were hired to carry a portable organ, known as a pozytyw, from station to station to accompany music in the streets. In 1674, the cost recorded for carrying the pozytyw was 18 grana.

Daily life

Elementary schooling for all social classes

Parish schools were open to children of both genders from all social estates to learn the basics of religion, reading, and sometimes subjects like grammar or Latin. Teaching quality varied greatly as there were no established training requirements for teachers.