Except in large urban centers, modern metallurgical and architectural techniques and mechanical technologies are quite difficult to come by -- though people still manage to manufacture wonderful products out of wood, plant fiber, animal tissue, and other cheap and plentiful materials. Metal armor and high-quality steel is expensive and generally out of reach of all but the wealthiest families. Glass, spices, lace, jewelry, etc., remain the priviliges of wealth and luxury, and are common only in trading cities like Suzail and Waterdeep, only wished-for elsewhere.

For commoners, barter is still the rule of the day. Coinage is usually made of stamped copper, tin, bronze, and other soft and common metals, with silver rare and gold usually far too precious to serve as a practical medium for trade. Very few people have the opportunity to save or use money, and are content to deal in homemade products and foodstuffs. In a few rural areas metal currency, unless it is gold or silver, is still refused as basically useless; however most inns and waymeets do deal in it, since they receive so much merchant traffic. Merchants and moneylenders are the only people who universally pay in cash. Since minting counterfeit coins is an easier process than it is today, money is generally measured by a standard of weight.

Humans are by far the norm when it comes to settled species, with halflings a distant second, since their habits, cultures and attitudes are so similar. Dwarves are mostly happiest with their own kind, though their peculiar reliance on trade is such that a majority of people can claim to have seen or spoken with one. Gnomes are very rare, but seem to enjoy traveling, and sometimes visit certain cities or inns to play music, drink, or share a tale for an evening or two. Elves are practically unknown outside of the inner Dalelands and the wild North, and don't seem to enjoy the company of anybody except their fellows. Half-elves, on the other hand, seem to like everybody; but you can well imagine how unlikely they are, especially in places like Sembia where their kind are distrusted and  feared.

Since nearly everyone is involved in farming, herding, or woodworking, the most influential religions are those of relatively benign and benevolent nature deities. The churches of Lathander, Chauntea, Gond and Sylune are major forces in the Realms at large, being far more numerous and powerful than any other. Myrkul plays an important part in most peoples lives, as do Tymora, Eldath, Helm, and Ilmater, all of whom are deeply respected and often revered. Mystery gods like Sylvanus, Shar, and Oghma are more often respected than loved. It is difficult but not impossible to find the rare devotee of Meilikki, Waukeen, Torm, Sune, or Tyr. Other Powers, particularly violent ones like Tempus, Umberlee and Malar, are respected and feared; Bane, Talona, Beshaba, and Bhaal on the other hand are outright hated and shunned (at least in the Heartlands, they are; things are different in the Moonsea, they say). Demihumans have their own strange gods, but in general do not share their religious ideas with the Big Folk.

The priesthood is one of the few escapes common people (especially women) have from a life of back-breaking toil or -- as practiced by the innumerable mercenaries, cutpurses, and assorted bandits and highwaymen populating Faerun -- robbery and casual brutality. There are consequently a terrific number of priests and missionaries in the Heartlands, and some among them -- not many, but some --   can claim to work genuine miracles and speak personally with the gods. (The majority simply pretend to.) These special souls are called The Chosen or The Favored, and represent the Cleric class in your PHB. Chosen priests and priestesses are commonly accorded a great deal of respect by others, and can usually count on a warm reception by whatever lord or nobleman they happen to encounter. Churches are almost always dominated by The Chosen, since it is (understandably) believed that they know the will of the gods better than regular people.

Wizards and sorcerers are only popular with very rich people, since they make such excellent friends and bodyguards. Everyone else tends to shy away from them as apostates or heretics (or both), except for some of those living in liberal, cosmopolitan places like Waterdeep and Suzail, or in exceptionally dangerous places like Shadowdale (where they are an absolute requirement for survival). Kings and noblemen get along with magic-users, since the latter are usually exceptionally intelligent and come in handy as counselors and tutors. But even for powerful kings like Azoun, magic itself remains at heart a dangerous, unwelcome and ill-conceived-of subject, and the dominion of elves and other strange creatures.