In the news1848
Cholera and Crop Failures in 1848
In 1848, a major cholera epidemic, coupled with a bad harvest and dry weather that caused widespread town fires, severely disrupted the lives of the agrarian population.
Peterhof Palaces and complex, 4 Aug 1843 – Paris, 6 Jan 1891
9 facts3 sources
4 Aug 1843
Born in Peterhof Palaces and complex
6 Jan 1891
Dies in Paris, aged 47
He lived through 6 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Peterhof Palaces and complex.
General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.
In the news1848
In 1848, a major cholera epidemic, coupled with a bad harvest and dry weather that caused widespread town fires, severely disrupted the lives of the agrarian population.
Getting around
Four-day coach journeys between capitals
Traveling between St. Petersburg and Moscow by stagecoach took four days of constant travel before the railway was completed.
In Europe1845–1852
Potato blight ruined harvests: a million Irish people died and a million more emigrated, many to America.
Daily life
Lighting and window materials in peasant homes
Peasant huts were typically illuminated by a torch inserted into the crack of the stove or by simple wicks dipped in oil. Glass was expensive and often replaced by bull bladders in peasant homes, while wealthier villagers began using mica.
What people wore
Peasant women's daily and festive attire
Peasant women wore a woolen skirt called a ponyova over a linen shirt, and they protected their hair with headdresses like the soroka, as showing hair was shameful for married women.
Music
Improvisational pliaska dances and percussion
Fast-paced pliaska dances were characterized by individual improvisations, sometimes accompanied by improvised percussion like wooden spoons or metal pots when standard instruments were unavailable.
At the table
Meal Customs in Peasant Households
Peasant families frequently ate from common dishes without individual cutlery, often eating in a set order led by the head of the household. Hygiene was minimal; dishes were typically rinsed in cold water after use rather than thoroughly washed.