Georg I., Herr von Schönburg

Getting around

River travel was significantly faster

Travel by water was faster; flat-bottomed river boats could cover 100 to 150 kilometers downstream in a single day under optimal conditions.

Daily life

Emergence of village schools in Hesse

Before the Reformation, village schools were reportedly non-existent in Hesse, but by 1556, visitors noted the establishment of seven village schools in the central region of the principality. Martin Luther emphasized that schools were necessary for both boys and girls to learn to conduct the affairs of life.

What people wore

Women's Stockings and Garters

Peasant women wore stockings that reached above the knee, which were held in place by garters tied above the calf. These were often made from wool and cut at a 45-degree angle to the grain to ensure they were stretchable and fit tightly.

Music

School children singing for income

School children were required to sing German hymns daily at church services and earned extra money by singing at funerals and in front of wealthy citizens' houses.

At the table

German reputation for fatty, mustard-heavy diets

Germans were known for a fatty diet, using lard and butter extensively for cooking, and were famous for smearing generous amounts of mustard on meat.