History of modern times. Socio-economic structure of European society at the end of the 15th - beginning of the 16th centuries (most important)

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History of modern times. Socio-economic structure of European society at the end of the 15th - beginning of the 16th centuries (most important)

Lecture notes, cheat sheets

Directory / Lecture notes, cheat sheets

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5. SOCIO-ECONOMIC STRUCTURE OF EUROPEAN SOCIETY AT THE END OF XV - BEGINNING OF XVI CENTURIES

At the end of the XV - beginning of the XVI centuries. the division of European society into three estates was preserved: the first - the clergy, the second - the nobility, the third - all other segments of the population. The old formula clearly defined the place of each estate in the life of states: "The clergy serve the kings with prayers, the nobility - with a sword, the third estate - with property."

The first and second estates were considered privileged - they did not pay taxes and owned land. Together they made up a smaller part of society. Only nobles were appointed to the highest church positions. The top of the nobility was the titled nobility, "represented to the court." It was the smallest part of society. These people lived on royal gifts and pensions.

Nobles were also appointed to officer positions in the army, and the officers had to document that four generations of their ancestors were nobles. In connection with the beginning of the use of firearms (guns, cannons, mortars, etc.), chivalry began to gradually decline. Knightly armor did not protect against bullets and shrapnel, and a knight in armor was an excellent target in battle because of his sluggishness and low maneuverability.

The most difficult fate fell on the share of the third estate. Its composition was motley: peasants, ordinary townspeople - artisans, hired workers, day laborers. The bourgeois also belonged to this class: bankers, shipowners, merchants, owners of manufactories, officials, lawyers. They paid all taxes. Among the bourgeois there were a lot of rich people who lent money to the kings, but they did not have political rights.

If we compare the number and composition of the estates in the states of Europe for the period of the late XV - early XVI centuries, we can find very noticeable differences. For example, in Italy, where there were many independent city-republics, the number of merchants, artisans, owners of manufactories, workshops, shipowners significantly exceeded other classes, and economic relations were different. In France and Spain, peasants were numerous, as well as (relatively) small-scale nobles, feudal lords. In Germany, where there was no strong imperial power, some lands were headed by spiritual rulers. In the same country there were many monasteries and churches that had large plots of land. Accordingly, the structure of society was different in composition and number of estates. But basically it was the same three estates - the clergy, the nobility and the third estate with a predominance of the peasantry.

Late XV - early XVI centuries. - folding absolutism

in England towards the end of the fifteenth century. the royal power lost its once strong position, the separatism of the nobility flourished, relying on armed feudal squads. Powerful magnates subjugated the local government and the courts. Many territories, cities and individual representatives of the nobility during the political struggle in the XV century. achieved wide liberties and privileges. The English Church, subject to Rome and having its own law and courts, was not subject to the control of royal power.

In France, the basis for the strengthening of royal power during this period was the destruction of the political organization of the medieval estates. The position of the French nobility was characterized by a gap between the aristocracy and the viable part of the middle nobility. Fundamental changes have taken place in the cities. The social stratification of the urban community noticeably increased in the XNUMXth-XNUMXth centuries. The emergence of early capitalist relations leads to the transformation of the urban elite and the people into pronounced opposite poles.

Authors: Alekseev V.S., Pushkareva N.V.

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