In the news1700–1704
Monetary system reform in 1704
Between 1700 and 1704, the government reformed the monetary system, introducing copper coinage and reducing the silver content of the ruble to 28 grams to align with European standards.
18th century – 1706
6 facts1 source
11 Sep 1651
A daughter is born
18th century
Born
1706
Dies
General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.
In the news1700–1704
Between 1700 and 1704, the government reformed the monetary system, introducing copper coinage and reducing the silver content of the ruble to 28 grams to align with European standards.
Getting around
Winter travel by sledge and heated carriage
Winter travel was often considered faster and more convenient, as travelers used sledges to glide over snow and frozen riverbeds. Some specialized winter carriages, known as vozoks, were equipped with heaters and allowed passengers to lie down during long journeys.
At the table
Traditional hangover cure dish
To cure a hangover or feeling unwell, people ate a dish called pokhmelye, made from cold roast mutton, cucumbers, vinegar, and cucumber brine served as a spoon-eaten salad.
In Europe · 1701–1714War of the Spanish Succession. Europe’s powers fought for thirteen years over who would inherit the Spanish throne; a Bourbon kept it, and Britain gained Gibraltar.
What people wore
Fines for traditional Russian clothing
People wearing traditional Russian clothing in public faced a fine of 13 altyn and 2 denga for pedestrians and 2 rubles for those on horseback.
Music
Instruments and singing in royal life
Military and celebratory music frequently featured brass and percussion, such as trumpets, drums, and oboes, which were played during formal processions and ceremonial toasts. Peter the Great himself was known to play the drum and would occasionally sing with church choristers during services.
Daily life
Traditional Izba Dwellings
Ordinary Russian homes, known as izbas, were log cabins with shuttered windows often covered with bull's bladder instead of glass, and they relied on splinter torches for lighting.