Margaret Petrovna Romanov

What people wore

European dress reforms

Following reforms, men adopted caftans, knee-length breeches, and stockings, while women transitioned from concealing sarafans to dresses with low necklines and short sleeves.

Getting around

Slow travel speeds in 18th-century Russia

In the 18th century, travelers moved at a slow average speed of only seven versts per hour in summer and five in winter. Consequently, a journey from Moscow to Kiev took about two weeks, while Moscow to Smolensk required three days.

At the table

Traditional hangover cure dish

To cure a hangover or feeling unwell, people ate a dish called pokhmelye, made from cold roast mutton, cucumbers, vinegar, and cucumber brine served as a spoon-eaten salad.

Music

New ballroom dances at assemblies

At social gatherings like the Petrine assemblies, dancing became a structured activity where participants performed dances such as the polonaise, minuet, and various English-style dances. These assemblies were a significant shift for the nobility, requiring both men and women to participate in public dancing.

Daily life

Traditional Izba Dwellings

Ordinary Russian homes, known as izbas, were log cabins with shuttered windows often covered with bull's bladder instead of glass, and they relied on splinter torches for lighting.

What it cost

Annual wages for Moscow factory workers

In the first quarter of the 18th century, a skilled weaver at a Moscow textile factory earned up to 24 rubles per year, while unskilled workers earned between 6 and 12 rubles per year.