Ludwika Karolina Radziwiłł

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

Average daily travel distance

Travel speeds were generally slow, with people on foot covering 20–25 kilometers per day and horse-drawn carriages covering 25–30 kilometers daily.

What it cost

Cost of Footwear in the 17th Century

The price of a pair of shoes fluctuated throughout the century, reaching 15.8 units in 1651 and 13.2 units in 1661.

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

Elementary schooling for all social classes

Parish schools were open to children of both genders from all social estates to learn the basics of religion, reading, and sometimes subjects like grammar or Latin. Teaching quality varied greatly as there were no established training requirements for teachers.