Vassili Mikhailovich Romanov

What people wore

Footwear by social class

Ordinary peasant women wore bast shoes made from tree bark or vine twigs, whereas wealthier women wore boots or shoes made from leather, velvet, or brocade with high heels.

Daily life

Smoke and Light in the Home

In most homes, chimneys were not used until the 18th century, so smoke from the stove often exited through a hole in the roof or simply filled the living space. For artificial light during dark winters, families used luchiny, which were thin splinters of resinous pine burned in a metal holder.

Work

Agricultural Serfs and Their Daily Routine

Most serfs worked in agriculture, enduring a daily cycle that began between 3 and 4 a.m. during the growing season. They spent their days performing barshchina, which was unpaid corvée labor on their lord's fields, followed by labor on their own small allotments to provide for their families.

Music

Development of Polyphonic Spiritual Songs

Spiritual songs were traditionally monophonic, but by the seventeenth century, they were increasingly composed for two to four voices. These songs were performed by men, boys, and women at home, during church festivities, or outdoors.

At the table

Rye bread and occasional festive treats

Rye bread was the standard daily bread, while wheat flour was reserved for special occasions like holiday cakes or rolls, which ordinary people considered a great treat. Meat and fish were often consumed only during major religious holidays or periods of heavy field labor.

Getting around

Difficult Travel on Primitive Russian Roads

Travelers faced extremely poor roads that were often blocked by fallen trees and deep mud, leading to violent jolting of carriages. Due to these conditions, even wealthy people frequently traveled on horseback or waited for winter to use sleighs.

What it cost

Prices for clothes and livestock

While a sheep cost 20 kopecks, a pair of boots cost about 50 kopecks, which represented more than a month's salary for an ordinary worker.