Piotr Firlej

What people wore

Footwear and status of clothing

Peasant footwear ranged from simple leather forms to boots, and clothing was considered portable wealth that was often stored, inherited, or used as a pledge. Married women were expected to cover their hair with bonnets or scarves, often adding a secondary headcloth called a podwika to cover the neck and décolletage.

Daily life

No formal schooling for rural children

Rural children did not attend formal schools; instead, their childhood was short and primarily focused on learning farm work through games and assisting their parents. Many children played with self-made wooden or clay toys, or simply used natural objects like sand, stones, and water.

Work

Wealthy Farmers and Economic Transactions

Peasants were economic actors who could earn significant disposable income, sometimes reaching 10 to 20 złoties in a good year by the mid-sixteenth century. Some wealthy farmers even purchased mills or inns using installment plans that could span up to twenty years.

Music

Performers in city inns

In the 16th century, musicians called igrcy sang lighthearted and sometimes ribald songs in city inns, which were heavily criticized and discouraged by the clergy.

At the table

Daily meat consumption

An average laborer on a Polish manor consumed approximately 300g of fatty meat every day.

Getting around

Travel speed for the wealthy on horseback

Wealthier individuals traveled on horseback, which allowed for a faster pace of 30–40 kilometers per day compared to pedestrian or wagon travel.

What it cost

Purchasing power of weekly wages

For one week's wages, a laborer could purchase approximately 100 liters of beer or a pair of shoes, which cost 7 to 8 grossi.