Tsarevich Dmitry Alexeyevich of Russia

Tsarevich Dmitry Alexeyevich was the first son of Tsar Alexis of Russia by his first wife Maria Miloslavskaya.

Footwear by social class

Ordinary peasant women wore bast shoes made from tree bark or vine twigs, whereas wealthier women wore boots or shoes made from leather, velvet, or brocade with high heels.

Preserving festive clothing

To protect expensive holiday clothing from moths and mustiness during storage, people kept them in chests covered with water mouse skin.

Massive burning of folk musical instruments

In 1648, authorities confiscated and burned five cartloads of folk musical instruments on the banks of the Moscow River due to a religious ban. Instruments targeted included domras, bagpipes, and various stringed instruments previously used by traveling entertainers called skomorokhi.

Solitary dancing and embroidered handkerchiefs

When dancing, Russians traditionally did not hold hands; instead, individuals danced alone, often waving intricately embroidered handkerchiefs while moving their arms, shoulders, and hips.

Carrying Supplies for Long Journeys

Because inns were rare, travelers were advised to carry essential supplies including an axe, fire-starting equipment, a cooking pot, and food for the entire duration of the journey. In the 16th and 17th centuries, many travelers were forced to camp under the open sky along riverbanks.

Difficult Travel on Primitive Russian Roads

Travelers faced extremely poor roads that were often blocked by fallen trees and deep mud, leading to violent jolting of carriages. Due to these conditions, even wealthy people frequently traveled on horseback or waited for winter to use sleighs.

Living in a Serf Izba

Serf dwellings were one-room log cabins (izbas) with tiny windows, often covered with stretched animal bladder or mica rather than glass to conserve heat. These homes were typically heated by a large clay-based oven that took up a quarter of the floor area and doubled as a sleeping platform.

Smoke and Light in the Home

In most homes, chimneys were not used until the 18th century, so smoke from the stove often exited through a hole in the roof or simply filled the living space. For artificial light during dark winters, families used luchiny, which were thin splinters of resinous pine burned in a metal holder.

Kvass was the most common daily drink

Common folk drank kvass, a fermented beverage made from rye or barley malt, daily. Alcohol such as beer and honey-based drinks were also consumed, though rural residents often produced these at home, while urban tavern customers spent an average of about 3 rubles and 66 kopecks annually on drinks.

Oat flour tolokno was a daily staple

Ordinary people frequently ate tolokno, a simple dish made by mixing oat flour with water, salt, and sometimes berries or honey. It was a staple, especially on fasting days.

Cost of footwear

In the late 17th century, a pair of fine morocco leather boots cost 1 ruble, while simpler leather shoes were significantly cheaper.

Costs of basic food staples

Prices for basic goods included one kopeck for a kilogram of bread, while a chicken cost three kopecks, the same price as 50 eggs or 1.5 kilograms of butter.

Agricultural Serfs and Their Daily Routine

Most serfs worked in agriculture, enduring a daily cycle that began between 3 and 4 a.m. during the growing season. They spent their days performing barshchina, which was unpaid corvée labor on their lord's fields, followed by labor on their own small allotments to provide for their families.

Non-stop Harvest Labor

During the intense harvest season in late summer, work continued seven days a week, often lasting from dawn until dusk and sometimes continuing by moonlight or torchlight to ensure the crop was saved. This period of extreme physical exertion was a constant struggle for survival for the serf families.

Privacy and state surveillance of mail

Before the establishment of a regular foreign postal service in the 1660s, mail often relied on private channels and was frequently intercepted and opened by authorities for inspection, a practice known as perlustration. Because of this lack of privacy, people used seals, envelopes, and trusted intermediaries to safeguard their messages.

Speed of official and private mail

Official couriers used a network of relay stations called yams to change horses, allowing them to travel at speeds of 55 to 60 km per day, or up to 125 km per day for urgent dispatches. In contrast, ordinary letters sent by private individuals traveled much slower, often carried by acquaintances or servants.