Stanisław Poniatowski

At the table

Mandatory alcohol consumption for peasants

Common people were forced by law to buy and consume specific amounts of alcohol, such as vodka or beer, from their local lord. This practice was sometimes described as conditioning them into addiction.

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

Common methods of transport

Ordinary people traveled by walking, riding horses, or using simple horse-drawn carts such as the kolasa.

What it cost

Meat Abundance and Pricing

Meat was often sold by the cut rather than by weight, and it was so abundant in some regions that eighty pounds of beef could be bought for one Reichsthaler.

Music

Stryjanka dance at home

The stryjanka was a popular dance performed at home, consisting of a march followed by a lively mazurka accompanied by the violin. While the household danced, others would observe the more energetic second half.

Daily life

Wood construction and indoor smoke management

Peasant homes were often smoky huts where smoke escaped through holes in the roof, while some wealthier urban houses had dedicated kitchens and fireplaces. Ordinary dwellings were constructed primarily of wood, which was available in abundance.