my dad researched his genealogy back in the Czech Republic -
he had only known about his grandfather who worked for the railway (Praha to Vienna) who lost the job due to his drinking and the next generation was doomed to poverty.

he later found out that they were farmers and lived in the same place for nearly 300 years but took on the name of the previous owners of the farm he got about as far as 1585. (they later lost or sold the farm when according to family tale, the son wanted to marry the daughter of the town executioner- the family was against it but eventually gave them money and sent them to America)

Going through the family records one does get a glimpse of how life was -- one of the ancestors had 7 children (5 of whom had died young)
Another one lived to almost 95 years. Typically the oldest one inherited the farm -so didnt usually marry until his 40s when the father passed away and retired.
One great-great-great-grandfather was a soldier (a captain in the Kaiser cavalry) who retired and married in 1820 after 15 years service so Im trying to find out if he fought in Austerlitz or the other Napoleonic battles.

Another great-great grandmother was a licensed midwife - who must have taught one of her daughters the skills as she came to Chicago in the early 1900s and later amassed a fortune by fixing peoples backs, midwifery, and illegal abortions --- she went back to the old country
and built some quite modern apt buildings back in the 30s - which are called AMERICA to this day.

It can be quite addictive to try and find out more, as previously we may only have known a name - but now can find out something about a life lived.