Section 3.13

Changing Social Structures

Questions to consider:

• How did the economic changes of the 16th century affect each class? Describe the economic classes emerging in Europe in the early modern centuries.

• What accounted for the new demand for education?

• Why did the economic changes of these years affect the rural classes of eastern Europe and of western Europe differently? With what consequences?

How did the Commercial Revolution affect social groups?

Social Structure = the composition, functions, and interrelationships of social classes. Let’s start at the top:

• Landed Aristocrats– Some developed

refined tastes, education

– Sought govt. positions, military appointments

–Nobles of the sword (older nobles) looked down on the nobles of the robe (nouveau riches)

• Middle Classes (Bourgeoisie)– Group between aristocracy and

poor– Began to buy lands (dress and act

noble)– Composed of urban elites (ruled

cities), clergy (educated), some guild masters, merchants, shopkeepers

– Lower middle class of Yeomen farmers (freeholders)• Owned their land

How did the Commercial Revolution affect social groups?

• Working Class– Peasantry & Urban Poor

• Largely illiterate, unskilled, wage laborers

• Menial jobs• The vast majority of the

population

How did the Commercial Revolution affect social groups?

Bruegel’s A Peasant Wedding

What impact did the Commercial Revolution have on education?

• Great demand for education (1580-1640)

• Reformation required educated clergy• Commercial growth created need for

literate workers, lawyers• Governments begin to grant

endowments to lower classes– Oxford- ½ of student body were

plebeian (member of lower classes)

Who benefited from the Commercial Revolution?• Western Europe

– Bourgeoisie

– Some Peasants (few)

• were getting freer

• some becoming small proprietors

• Eastern Europe

– Upper class

– Junkers (lords of Northeast Germany)

• Prospered from increased demand for grain

• Gained greater control over their peasants (hereditary subjects)

• Increase in robot (corvee in France)

– 3-4 days required labor

• This is decisive in the history of Europe!!!