At Home: A Short History of Private Life

Interesting Facts

• In every corner of the familiar home echo great historical events: even ordinary kitchen salt was once the cause of wars and a symbol of luxury.
• The ordinary bathroom is the heir to ancient Roman baths and medieval superstitions, when cleanliness was considered dangerous to health.
• The architecture and layout of rooms reflect not only the tastes of an era but also unexpected social changes: for example, the emergence of the dining room is linked to the development of manners and family dining rituals.
• The garden outside the window is not just decoration, but a testament to survival, fashion, and scientific discovery, as even the lawn was once a symbol of power and wealth.
• Every detail of the interior—from doorknobs to wallpaper—holds the story of human fears, dreams, and the pursuit of comfort, while behind familiar objects lie the fates of inventors and forgotten revolutions of daily life.