Krzysztof Mikołaj Radziwiłł

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 affordable everyday suknia dress

A simple dress, known as a suknia, was a common garment for townswomen and even affluent peasant women, with a basic version costing around 1.5 Lithuanian groschen.

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

Rising prices of livestock

During the 16th century, the price of common livestock such as cows tripled and pigs doubled due to a period of significant price increases.

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

Modest wooden homes with stoves

Peasant families typically lived in modest wooden houses that contained a stove, although some in the Samogitia region utilized a building called a numas equipped only with a fireplace.