In the news1756–1763
Seven Years' War casualties and destruction
During the Seven Years' War, some 160,000 Prussian soldiers died in battle or from disease, devastating the population.
Dresden, 27 Dec 1755 – Pillnitz, 6 Jun 1836
9 facts3 sources
27 Dec 1755
Born in Dresden
1795–1799
4 children are born
1827–1836
King of Saxony
6 Jun 1836
Dies in Pillnitz, aged 80
He lived through 9 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Dresden.
General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.
In the news1756–1763
During the Seven Years' War, some 160,000 Prussian soldiers died in battle or from disease, devastating the population.
Getting around
Stagecoach Travel at Walking Speed
In the mid-18th century, the stagecoach was the primary mode of travel for those who could afford it, moving at a walking pace of about 4 to 5 kilometers per hour. A trip from Nuremberg to Leipzig typically took around 70 hours, while the journey from Nuremberg to Regensburg required 20 hours.
In Europe1755
On All Saints’ Day an earthquake, a tsunami and fires levelled Lisbon and killed tens of thousands; Europe’s thinkers argued over it for decades.
Daily life
Open Hearth Cooking and Pump Well Water
Cooking took place in the living room over an open fireplace or a masonry hearth with a recessed grate, using wood or brown coal for fuel. Drinking water was typically sourced from communal pump wells located in the village center.
What people wore
Noble Men Preferred Wigs Over Beards
In the 18th century, noble men famously wore wigs and makeup, while facial hair was strictly shunned for most men, marking a major departure from later masculine standards.
Music
Everyday singing in homes and workrooms
Singing was a common activity in daily life, often performed without sheet music while working, such as during textile work in spinning rooms, or at church services and social gatherings.
At the table
Kitchen tools for open fire cooking
To save time while cooking soups, housewives used hooks with a sawtooth design to quickly adjust the height of pots over the fire. They also used a specialized iron tool called a Cold Hand to remove hot pots because oven mitts were not yet in use.