In the news1655
Kraków pays massive war contribution (1655)
In 1655, Kraków was forced to pay a massive contribution of 600,000 złotys during the Swedish occupation.
1654 – Olomouc, Dec 1709
7 facts1 source
1654
Born
1 Jan 1685
A daughter is born
Dec 1709
Dies in Olomouc
She lived through 6 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like.
General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.
In the news1655
In 1655, Kraków was forced to pay a massive contribution of 600,000 złotys during the Swedish occupation.
Getting around
Common methods of transport
Ordinary people traveled by walking, riding horses, or using simple horse-drawn carts such as the kolasa.
In the news1652
In 1652, the deputy Władysław Siciński used the liberum veto for the first time, breaking a session of the Sejm and signaling the start of political paralysis.
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.
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.
Music
Portable organ for street processions
For the Corpus Christi procession, strong men were hired to carry a portable organ, known as a pozytyw, from station to station to accompany music in the streets. In 1674, the cost recorded for carrying the pozytyw was 18 grana.
At the table
Rapid inflation of food prices
Food prices rose sharply during the 17th century; for example, the price of vodka in Gdańsk increased sevenfold between 1580 and 1677, and beer prices quintupled between 1550 and 1661. Due to these rising costs, most of a family's budget was spent on food.