Kunigunde of Austria

What people wore

Strict dress codes regulated social classes

Common citizens and artisans were legally prohibited from wearing luxury items like velvet, silk, pearls, or gold; their wives were limited to a gold ring worth no more than five or six guilders. Jewish people were forced to wear a yellow ring on their jackets or caps to ensure they were publicly recognizable.

Daily life

Fetching water daily

Water was scarce and had to be fetched from distant public fountains or wells, as only few houses had their own water supply.

Work

Difficult Working Conditions for Miners

Miners in the community of Schwaz, Tyrol, faced hazardous working conditions, irregular wage payments, and were forced to buy everyday goods at high prices.

Music

Rules for Dancing and Singing

In 1533, the Strasbourg city council permitted round dances but specifically prohibited the singing of shameful songs while dancing. Singing in a round was a common practice, as shown by the dance song Ich spring an disem ringe.

At the table

Common beverages of the period

Beer was the common daily drink, having completely replaced mead in many areas by 1500, while apple and pear cider (Most) was also traditional. Wine was typically reserved for the upper classes and official gatherings.

Getting around

Most people traveled on foot daily

Most people traveled on foot, covering between 20 and 40 kilometers per day.

What it cost

Vienna wages and food prices in 1525

In 1525, a daily laborer in Vienna earned 6.83 Kreuzer, while a kilogram of bread cost 0.58 Kreuzer and a kilogram of beef cost 1.39 Kreuzer.