This is a series of pictures I prepared while I was doing some research in Spanish daily life during the baroque period.
I used as a reference the articles “La vida cotidiana” from Mª de los
Ángeles Pérez Samper and “Cultura y mentalidades” from Jesús Mª Usunáriz Goyaroa.
Ángeles Pérez Samper and “Cultura y mentalidades” from Jesús Mª Usunáriz Goyaroa.
Time was difficult to measure accurately, as hourglasses or the duration of some of the most common vocal prayers, which were only useful in short periods, were still the most common way to measure it; although the first mechanical clocks also arise at this time, which, although they were very expensive, were frequently placed on city hall facades or church towers, so that everyone could see them. Although the bells that called the prayers remained the reference.
In modest houses the furniture was scarce, the beds used to consist of a simple mattress on a wooden frame or the floor itself and it was rare to find closets, since the shelves, bunkers and trunks already fulfill that function. To combat the cold they used instruments such as braziers or bed warmers. This continuous presence of fires in the houses made the risk of fire very high.
The diet was based on bread (which was the central food of meals), wine, and meat (within the reach of a few, who consumed it in huge quantities). The fish was reserved especially for fasting and withdrawal days. Vegetables and legumes, because of their high energy content, satiating effect and low price were very popular and the essential ingredient of stews. Other foods such as fruit were not recommended by doctors, but were consumed
with great pleasure from the population. There was great passion for sweet and spices, despite its high price.
with great pleasure from the population. There was great passion for sweet and spices, despite its high price.
The dress was also a basic necessity turned into a cultural phenomenon and a sign of social distinction. The flat town used to have few, modest and of vast materials, while in the well-to-do classes it was full of sophistication, class, luxury and fashion (feathers, stabbed, gorges, shims, bodices, bulky skirts and over skirts ... and an infinity of complements). Although it is common to both the great sexual differentiation that establishes.
Many times, the dress also showed the profession of those who wore it (togas, aprons, cassocks, habits, uniforms, pectoral crosses, etc).
Many times, the dress also showed the profession of those who wore it (togas, aprons, cassocks, habits, uniforms, pectoral crosses, etc).
The amusements (and the time dedicated to them) vary greatly depending on the social and economic level, and range from hunting and dancing to tavern games or gossip. The taverns and churches deserve special mention, as the places par excellence of social relationship.
In this period, efforts are made to reduce the number of festivities and improve their compliance (since the excess often caused them to be poorly fulfilled and local traditions to be given more importance than to the Rome guidelines); introduce novelties in the calendar and unify it (encouraging devotion to the new saints who are the banner of the reform and who substitute others of little canonical rigor, and instituting new celebrations such as that of Corpus); and eliminate the paganizing and superstitious elements (emphasizing that attending Mass is the right way to live these festivities and prohibiting many medieval celebrations).
In the process of socialization of children, mothers and grandmothers play an important role, which provide the child with a community identity and act as a vasoconductor of community value systems and instruct him in the rudiments of Christian doctrine.
Death was also a true social event, in which the entire community participated
(wake, procession, burial, trade, sniff ...).
Death was also a true social event, in which the entire community participated
(wake, procession, burial, trade, sniff ...).
Crimes against life were frequent (approximately 36% of the total), of which many were caused by verbal violence, since honor was an important issue at the time and the majority of the population possessed weapons.
The crimes were prosecuted by justice and punished with exemplary or utilitarian penalties, although the torment as a penalty survives until the middle of the seven hundred. Legislation is also strengthened in aspects such as the possession of white weapons, night surveillance, challenges or parties.
The crimes were prosecuted by justice and punished with exemplary or utilitarian penalties, although the torment as a penalty survives until the middle of the seven hundred. Legislation is also strengthened in aspects such as the possession of white weapons, night surveillance, challenges or parties.
Banditry was a problem at the time, especially in the Crown of Aragon, where bandits were stationed in mountainous and border areas to protect themselves thanks to jurisdictional difficulty. We also find riots and episodes of collective violence motivated above all by the growing oligarchization of municipal governments or the increase in economic pressure on peasants.
Following Trento, new forms of expression of religious sentiment arise, in addition to initiatives such as the standardization of the liturgy, or the growing importance of sermons (some full of spectacularity and realism) and catechesis. In addition, devotional precepts such as communion and Easter confession, the Angelus, the Rosary prayer or Marian pilgrimages are strengthened.
