Maria Rita de Bragança

Maria Rita Gertrudes of Braganza was a Portuguese nun, and the illegitimate daughter of John V of Portugal and Luísa Clara de Portugal. She was a nun at the Convent of Santos.

Clothing values and status in inventories

Merchant inventories from the era record clothing values in réis, such as a woman's red linen cloak valued at 12,000 réis and a man's cloth cloak at 3,000 réis. Ordinary daily clothing was rarely listed, as inventories primarily highlighted luxury items used to signal social status.

Fishermen's simple daily and festive attire

Fishermen typically wore linen breeches to the knee, a wool cap, and a vest called a sertum, only adding a jacket in cold weather. On feast days, they wore formal outfits with silver shoe buckles, borrowing from friends or relatives if they did not own one.

Guitars and violins fueled lively festivities

During social events, when festivities became lively, it was common for guests to play the guitar or violin and sing before transitioning into dances.

Music and dance at private assemblies

At private gatherings, guests enjoyed music, dance, card games, and meals, with the amount of music often reflecting the host's socioeconomic status.

Slow, difficult overland travel

Due to poor roads, long-distance journeys were extremely slow; one traveler spent about 9 days traveling from Porto to Lisbon, including sections by carriage and boat. Land travel was so difficult that many opted for sea travel, despite the dangers.

The seggia carriage rental

A seggia was a common carriage used for travel in the late 18th century, costing between 48 and 60 réis to rent for a day or half-day. It could carry two passengers and operate from morning until midnight.

Simple cooking and olive oil use

Cooking often occurred in a simple space with a portable hearth and limited tools; olive oil was the primary fat used for cooking, as religious customs restricted the use of animal fats on certain days.

Water delivered by paid carriers

Drinking water was often delivered to homes by water carriers; in one noble household, a water carrier was paid 2$400 réis per month for this service.

Bread price and weight regulations

In times of scarcity, a pound of wheat bread cost 10 réis, but when grain prices rose to 500 réis, the weight of the bread was reduced to about 0.3 kilograms.

High cost of beef

In 1739, beef was so expensive in Sines that there were no bidders to supply it, making its sale free instead of regulated.

Bread prices and weight regulation

In the 18th century, the price of bread was tied to its weight. When the price of wheat reached 40 réis per arrátel, a loaf of bread cost 10 réis, but during shortages, the bread weight was reduced to maintain affordability.

Common Jobs for Ordinary People

In urban centers like Lisbon and Coimbra, ordinary people worked as fishmongers, street vendors, bakers, washerwomen, and artisans, while rural women frequently worked as day laborers performing weeding and olive harvesting. Women also served as essential domestic help, cooks, and hospital staff, often working for daily wages or seasonal contracts.

Wages and Daily Chores

In rural areas, women were paid about half as much as men, receiving 200 to 240 réis for gathering olives compared to the 400 to 480 réis men earned for shaking the trees. Urban life for many involved a daily routine of carrying wastewater and trash from houses to the river, a task performed by enslaved women known as calhandreiras.