Anna Sophie of Prussia

At the table

A traditional hangover remedy

Ordinary people often prepared a hangover cure by mixing cold roasted mutton, cucumbers, vinegar, and cucumber brine.

What people wore

Mandatory Head Coverings and Respect

Social conventions required both men and women to wear head coverings outdoors, but men were expected to remove their hats as a sign of respect when meeting superiors. In contrast, married women were required to keep their heads covered at all times, even when at home, and the removal of a woman's head covering in public was a serious violation.

Getting around

Efficient state posting system for travelers

For authorized travelers, the state-run posting system allowed horses to be changed at stations every 40 to 50 kilometers. Using this relay system, the 524-verst journey between Novgorod and Moscow could be completed in 72 hours.

What it cost

Meat prices and daily wages

A daily wage for a laborer in Augsburg was equivalent to the value of 5 to 6 pounds of the best meat. In Bavaria, one pound of the best beef cost 2 pfennige, while a day laborer earned 18 pfennige daily.

Music

Tsar Ivan IV Composed Church Music

Tsar Ivan IV was an avid lover and composer of church music, dedicating several hours a day to it. His compositions, known as stichera, remain part of the repertoire today.

Daily life

Stoves served as kitchen and bed

The massive stove was the heart of the home, used for cooking, heating, and even sleeping, as it remained warm for 24 hours after being fired. Families often slept on elevated wooden platforms called polati, which were built near the stove to take advantage of the rising heat.