Princess Zorka of Montenegro

What people wore

Women carrying heavy burdens while working

While men traveled on horseback, women often walked on foot carrying tremendous weights slung by straps across their chests, using the opportunity to knit or spin while they traveled.

Getting around

Travel on foot and heavy labor

Ordinary people primarily used steep, rugged mountain paths, often traveling on foot and carrying heavy burdens on their backs. Women frequently performed the hard labor of transporting goods, sometimes knitting or spinning while carrying significant weights held by straps across their chests.

At the table

Meat as a luxury item

Meat, primarily beef and goat, was often prepared by boiling or drying and could be stored for up to a year. Eating meat was considered a sign of prosperity, reserved for those with annual incomes of at least 400 gulden.

Music

Gusle: The Monochord of Montenegrin Epic Poetry

The gusle, a single-stringed instrument played with a horsehair bow, was the most important traditional instrument for accompanying epic poetry and historical songs. Musicians often improvised lyrics at home or during festivities, with the instrument being passed from person to person.

Daily life

Oral education and the gusle tradition

Formal schooling was rare and often held in contempt, as traditional education relied on oral history shared by elders around the hearth. Lessons were learned through heroic ballads and playing the gusle, which were considered essential for maintaining honor and family values.

What it cost

Dietary habits of the population

Meat was considered a luxury, consumed only by the wealthy, while the rest of the population had a very poor diet.