Manuel II of Portugal

Dom Manuel II, sometimes known as the Unfortunate or the Patriot, was the last king of Portugal, reigning from 1908 until 1910.

Generational inheritance of Sunday clothing

Fishermen in the late 19th century owned very few sets of clothes; their Sunday best was often handed down through generations, passing from parents to children and even to grandchildren.

Personalized clothing marks

Rural villagers expressed individuality and status by marking their clothing with initials, with men often embroidering them on the chest of their linen shirts and women on their aprons.

Music in the home and theater

Influential families regularly organized private dinner parties and concerts at home, while urban centers saw a boom in theater construction throughout the late nineteenth century.

The role of military bands

Military bands often served as the only musical groups in provincial towns, frequently teaching locals and performing in public squares and processions.

Railway revolutionised travel speed to Cascais

By 1895, the railway between Lisbon and Cascais cut travel speeds from 9.5 km/h to about 40 km/h, turning a grueling journey into a 50-minute trip.

Slow and noisy ox carts

In rural areas, ox-drawn carts made a loud, shriek-like noise, earning them the name chilreada, and traveled at a slow pace of only 1.5 miles per hour.

Primary education and schoolhouses

Primary schooling for children aged six to twelve was compulsory, though the lack of dedicated schoolhouses was a major challenge. Schools were often domestic in nature, sometimes with the teacher's residence attached to or part of the same building as the classroom.

Crowded conditions for the working class

Homes for the working class were often crowded, old, and lacked basic hygiene, with some families living in single rooms without tap water or proper sewage. In cities, poor families often resided in tenement-like structures known as pátios in Lisbon or ilhas in Porto.

Broa as a daily staple for families

Ordinary rural families relied on 'broa' (corn bread) as a staple, often eating it with olives, fried bacon, or canned sardines, while wheat bread was reserved for special occasions.

Early morning meal 'mata-bicho'

Rural workers often started their day with a small, modest meal known as 'mata-bicho', typically consisting of bread, olives, or bacon, sometimes accompanied by a drink of strong spirits like aguardente.

Daily wages for various Portuguese workers

Wages for a day laborer in the Douro district were 200 réis, while a mason in Lisbon earned 700 réis per day.

Long working hours for low pay

Women working in fields could earn one shilling a day or less for shifts of up to sixteen hours.