José I of Portugal

Music

Villancicos in church and festivals

Villancicos, which often depicted characters like sailors, soldiers, slaves, and gypsies, were sung during major church feasts such as Christmas and Epiphany. They incorporated theatrical elements with costumes, gestures, and simulated dances representing peasants and various cultural groups.

At the table

Bread used as a thickener

To thicken broths and stews, a common practice was using bread; for instance, a fish stuffing recipe included five réis of breadcrumbs.

Work

Enslaved women performed essential cleaning work

Enslaved women in Lisbon, known as calhandreiras, performed the exhausting task of carrying heavy ceramic pots of household rubbish and dirty water to the river every morning.

What people wore

Maintaining appearances with limited clothing

Social strivers would meticulously maintain their limited clothing, washing and soaping collars and cuffs, and using animal fat to keep shoes looking shiny even when the soles were worn through. They also applied powders to their hats to mask age and wear, aiming to project an appearance of higher status.

Getting around

Main modes of transport were primitive

During this period, most people traveled on foot, on horseback, on mules, or by boat, as there were no railways or regular stagecoach lines.

What it cost

Property taxes for Arraiolos farmers

In 1715, "seareiros" (tenant farmers) in Arraiolos were assigned a property tax of 1,500 réis for their land, with an additional 200 réis for one individual's production equipment.