Infanta Maria Doroteia of Portugal

Music

Music and dance at private assemblies

At private gatherings, guests enjoyed music, dance, card games, and meals, with the amount of music often reflecting the host's socioeconomic status.

At the table

Bread price and weight regulations

In times of scarcity, a pound of wheat bread cost 10 réis, but when grain prices rose to 500 réis, the weight of the bread was reduced to about 0.3 kilograms.

Daily life

Simple cooking and olive oil use

Cooking often occurred in a simple space with a portable hearth and limited tools; olive oil was the primary fat used for cooking, as religious customs restricted the use of animal fats on certain days.

What people wore

Clothing values and status in inventories

Merchant inventories from the era record clothing values in réis, such as a woman's red linen cloak valued at 12,000 réis and a man's cloth cloak at 3,000 réis. Ordinary daily clothing was rarely listed, as inventories primarily highlighted luxury items used to signal social status.

Getting around

Slow, difficult overland travel

Due to poor roads, long-distance journeys were extremely slow; one traveler spent about 9 days traveling from Porto to Lisbon, including sections by carriage and boat. Land travel was so difficult that many opted for sea travel, despite the dangers.

What it cost

Bread prices and weight regulation

In the 18th century, the price of bread was tied to its weight. When the price of wheat reached 40 réis per arrátel, a loaf of bread cost 10 réis, but during shortages, the bread weight was reduced to maintain affordability.