Philip I of Castile

What people wore

Flemish peasant men's clothing

Flemish peasant men typically wore a long linen undershirt, a tight-fitting doublet secured with ties, and snug hose tied to the doublet to keep them in place. A codpiece, made of the same fabric as the hose, was worn over the front opening for modesty.

Daily life

Elementary schooling in villages

Almost every village or parish had at least one elementary school where children paid a few pennies per month per subject. Tuition for poor children was often covered by the Church or philanthropists.

Work

Harvest labor and daily wages

Harvest workers, including many women, worked from sunrise to sunset and were often paid in cash and free beer. In the 1440s, a female harvester could earn 10.2 Flemish d. groten per day, a wage that could help lease a small land parcel.

Music

Margaret of Austria's rare dance book

Margaret of Austria possessed a dance book from around 1500 containing 58 songs with gold staves and silver notes, which included dance instructions in letters below the music.

At the table

Beer was the standard daily beverage

Most people drank beer instead of water, which was often considered unsafe, and children also consumed beer. Wine was also popular, though it was frequently diluted with water.

Getting around

Travel times varied by transport method

A journey from Eindhoven to Deventer took over three days on foot, but with a pack mule, the same distance could take nine days.

What it cost

Price of simple leather shoes

Simple leather shoes cost between 3 and 8 guilders, depending on the quality of the leather and the craftsmanship.