Alonso Pérez de Guzmán, 7th Duke of Medina Sidonia

What people wore

Clothing as a Valuable Asset

Poor rural laborers often owned only one set of clothing, sometimes in such disrepair that it barely covered their bodies. This clothing was a valuable asset often included in wills and dowries, and even used to pay funeral taxes.

Daily life

Water access was a major daily effort

Most ordinary homes lacked a private well, forcing residents to carry water from the nearest public fountain. Having a private well was considered a significant luxury.

Work

Long days and regulated wages

Agricultural laborers were required to work from sunrise to sunset, and municipalities enforced strict daily wage caps that varied by season, often ranging from 30 to 68 maravedíes.

Music

Home music and the vihuela

The vihuela was a widely played instrument at home, and seven printed songbooks published between 1536 and 1576 contain hundreds of secular works including ballads, sonnets, and villancicos. These books were instrumental in spreading music beyond elite courtly circles into ordinary households.

At the table

Meat was a rare luxury

Meat was a luxury rarely eaten by the poor, and consuming it was a symbol of wealth and power, often reserved for special occasions or festivities.

Getting around

The postal relay system

The postal service system, established in the 16th century, allowed travelers to change horses at relay stations, which was considered the fastest and most advanced method of transport.

What it cost

Daily wages in Seville in the 1550s

A casual laborer in Seville typically earned about 74 maravedíes per day during the 1550s.