Q75863

At the table

Beer as the primary beverage

Beer was the most widely consumed everyday beverage because water was often considered dirty and unsafe to drink.

What people wore

The practical jermiak overcoat

The jermiak was a popular, light, and unlined overcoat for ordinary city residents, often made of grey or black home-made kersey fabric.

Getting around

Slow travel pace for pedestrians and carts

Traveling by foot or with a cart full of goods was slow, typically covering only about 25 km per day.

What it cost

Honey cakes as a luxury treat

For special occasions, honey cakes were purchased for the royal court at a price of 8 to 14 groschen each.

Music

Rewarding a traditional rural singer

In 1546, a performer named Andrius, associated with the noble Mikalojus Radvila, was rewarded for singing traditional rural laments.

Daily life

Limited schooling for peasant children

Children from lower-class families were usually illiterate, as parents often needed them for daily agricultural work and parish schools were sparse due to a lack of funding.