Friedrich Prinz von Anhalt-Zerbst

At the table

Avoiding Contaminated Water

Water was rarely drunk, as people relied on beer or watered-down vinegar for safer hydration. Often, drinking water was avoided entirely due to the high risk of contamination from nearby cesspools.

What people wore

Hat with a hidden storage bag

The Scheessel Winkelmann hat was designed with a secret fabric bag inside, which allowed the wearer to carry a hymnal, bread, and a flask while on the go.

Getting around

Travel speeds for foot passengers

Most travelers were foot passengers who could expect to cover about 100 kilometers in a week, accounting for rest days and potential travel obstacles like bad weather or floods.

Work

Regulated Hours for Urban Construction Workers

Construction workers like stonecutters and carpenters worked under municipal regulations that strictly governed their daily wages and their arrival and departure times for work. These rules were officially decreed by city councils to maintain order in the building trades.

Music

Village Dances Featured Bagpipes and Drums

At village festivals, ordinary people enjoyed dancing to the music provided by a bagpiper and a drummer. These gatherings were relaxed outdoor events where villagers would drink beer and socialize while watching the dance.

Daily life

Limited and seasonal schooling

Schooling was not compulsory, and rural children often only attended in winter because they had to work on farms during the summer. Instruction focused primarily on memorizing the Bible to learn how to pray and read scripture.