th
18
Century Europe
The Social Order
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18th Century Europe was a very class conscious
society
A great landowner could do as he pleased during the
later half of the century
The social structure was marked by birth into your
estate (France) or order
This order marked not only your identity, but also
your privileges and responsibility
Nobility
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Making up about 2-3% (more common in Eastern
Europe and Spain) this was the most privileged
order
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As a noble you were exempt from most taxes
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You could pass on your title to your first son
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They dominated political life
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Owned land but did not work
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Made money from peasants and their seigneurial
dues
Peasants had to show deference to nobles as they
The Clergy
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Although technically an estate the clergy were
separated into two parts, wealthy clergy and priests
Immune from taxes
The bishops and higher clergy came from the
nobility and were not pious
Local priests were very important in local affairs
Bourgroisie
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Traders, artisans, craftsman, innkeepers, lawyers
small merchants and manufacturers
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Many would try and purchase land and titles
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1/3 of Western Europe was owned by these
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Often looked down on by nobles
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Growing in power
Peasants
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Between 75-90% of the people were peasants
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Through them the nobles maintained wealth
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The village was the center of the peasant's life
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Folklore would celebrate peasant wisdom, but they
were considered lower than human by the nobility
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Rural industry often brought extra money
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Debt was common
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The landless poor traveled as migrant workers
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Serfdom was abolished in Western Europe but lords
could still issue justice
Peasants Continued
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The further East, the worse it was
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Peasants would resist, and sometimes revolt
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Pugachev's “Peter III”
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All revolts were put down with brutality