Johnstone on Medieval v. Industrial Social Orders

Compare the social orders of the Renaissance period, pre-industrial
Europe of the 18th century, and industrializing Europe of the 19th
century.
(pg. 306+307; 513-518; 570+571)

I. Introduction

Thesis: The social order of the Renaissance era derived from the
tradition of the Middle Ages with, specific categories of existence, the
three estates. Pre-industrial Europe witnessed the division amongst the
clusters for the nobility now included those with wealth along with
those of bloodlines and the peasantry integrated free laborers with serfs.
The Industrial Revolution introduced an entrepreneur middle class
almost on par with the nobility as the distance from the lower class
increased.

Social order of Renaissance period

a. Renaissance inherited social order from Middle Ages
i. 3 Estates: clergy, nobility and peasants
b. Nobility
i. 2-3%
ii. Expense of maintaining noble status was rising
iii. Old nobility survived and new nobility grew
iv. served as military officers and politicians
v. Castiglione's The Book of the Courtier: fundamental handbook for
European aristocrats (native endowments, participation in military
activities and certain code of conduct)
1. aim of perfect noble is to serve his prince in an effective and
honest way
c. Peasants and Townspeople
i. 85-90%
ii. continuing elimination of serfdom
iii. multitude of townspeople separated economically and socially
1. patricians: wealth allowed them to dominate social community >
shopkeepers/artisans/guild masters: provide goods for consumption >
propertyless workers > unemployed
iv. urban poverty increased dramatically in cities
d. Slavery
i. Declined in Early Middle Ages and rose again in Italy during the
Renaissance
ii. In Italy, slaves were used as skilled workers or nursemaids;
obtained from eastern Mediterranean and black sea region
iii. Slave trade declined again during 1600’s because of the expenses
(less slave markers open to Italians after conquering by Turks)
III. Social order of pre-industrial Europe of 18th century
a. Social status determined by division into traditional estates
classified by heredity (supported by Christian teaching)
b. Nobility
i. 2-3%; dominating role in society
ii. Legal privileges such as judgment by peers, immunity from severe
punishment, exemption from forms of taxation
iii. Lived off estates but weren’t opposed to mercantile endeavors
iv. Tradition stated that nobles were best and most natural officers >
many had military posts
v. e. EUR used serfs; w.EUR leased land to tenant farmers
vi. large gap amongst nobles as far as money was concerned (money vs.
bloodlines)
c. Peasants
i. 85% (especially because society was largely rural)
ii. Peasants in GB, FR, n.IT, SP and w.GER were legally free
iii. Small peasant proprietors in w.EUR, even being physically free,
weren't able to escape from tithes (1/3 of crops) and other fees
iv. In e.EUR serfs were bound to the lord's estate and had to ask
permission for everything including marriage/moving
v. Local villages = center of social lives yet mostly dominated by
wealthy peasants

Social order of industrializing Europe of 19th century

a. Middle class
i. Industrial middle class was trying to condense the gap between them
and nobles and create distance between them and laboring class
ii. Entrepreneurs > wealthy played important role alongside traditional
landed elites of society
iii. Industrial revolution began at a time when preindustrial agrarian
world was dominated by landed nobles
iv. Wealthiest entrepreneurs merge with old elites
b. Working class
i. Largest group of urban workers = artisans/craftspeople: disliked
industrialization for it promoted factories (guilds vs. factories: quality
or efficiency?)
ii. Servants formed a large class of workers; dependant on upper and
middle class employers
iii. Industrial proletariat soon formed out of factory workers;
horrible conditions in factories