John Sigismund, Crown Prince of Poland

At the table

Mandatory alcohol consumption for peasants

Common people were forced by law to buy and consume specific amounts of alcohol, such as vodka or beer, from their local lord. This practice was sometimes described as conditioning them into addiction.

What people wore

Valuable Noblewoman's Clothing

Seventeenth-century noblewomen's wills show that items like fur-lined coats, velvet dresses, and specific headgear such as caps and wimples were vital assets, sometimes valued higher than silver or jewelry.

Getting around

Common methods of transport

Ordinary people traveled by walking, riding horses, or using simple horse-drawn carts such as the kolasa.

What it cost

Cost of Bread and Shoes

Basic items were affordable: bread cost less than one grosz, and a pair of shoes ranged from 9 to 24 grosze in the 17th century. In 1671, the price of a pair of shoes reached 19.1 grosze.

Music

Bagpipe music at inns and celebrations

Bagpipes were common instruments for providing dance music at weddings and parties in city and country inns, enjoyed by peasants, the lower bourgeoisie, and the gentry.

Daily life

Wood construction and indoor smoke management

Peasant homes were often smoky huts where smoke escaped through holes in the roof, while some wealthier urban houses had dedicated kitchens and fireplaces. Ordinary dwellings were constructed primarily of wood, which was available in abundance.