The Social order HI203
What Does the Social Order Tell us About a Society?
Social Ordering Social ordering is a construct. Ways of categorizing society reveal priorities, superstructures, and values. Social ordering is diachronic. Changes in the social order reveal underlying and systemic changes. Early modern Europe sees an epistemic shift in the social order.
Hierarchies: National Medieval Conceptions Those who fight, those who pray, those who work. Sorts v. Classes?
The Great Chain of Being Tree of Commonwealth Body Politic
Monarch Apex of the Chain Divinely Ordained Head of Social and Political Nation
Nobility, Noblesse, Nobleza, Szlachta “Those whom their race and blood or at least their virtues do make noble and known.” 3 Traditional Functions: War Land Jurisdiction Privileges
The Middling Sort Burghers, Citizens and Professionals Urban Rural Burghers, Citizens and Professionals Wealth based on Trade, Finance, Industry Office-Holding and State Service Yeoman and Independent Farmers Wealth based on land Secure Title and Surplus
The Commonality “These have no voice nor authority in our commonwealth, and no account is made of these but to be ruled, not to rule others” -Thomas Smith
The Common People Not a homogeneous group Small farmers, craftsmen, industrial workers, fisherman, miners, servants, agricultural labourers. Skilled vs. Manual Labour Urban vs. Rural Independent vs. Wage Labour
Minorities Non-Christians Jews Muslims Denominational Minorities
Personal Hierarchies Family Hierarchies “A Little Commonwealth” Occupational and Professional Hierarchies
Social Mobility Always a Feature of the Early Modern World Strategies of Advancement Marriage State Service Investment Barriers to Advancement
Maintaining Hierarchies: Law Justice or Social Peace Common Law v. Roman Law Systems Limits of Policing
Signaling Status Style of Address Clothing Consumption Seating Processions
Sumptuary Laws Regulation of Clothing Based on Status Official Enforcement of Outward Symbols Colours, fabrics, materials, ornamentation restricted
Punishment Terror and Mercy Public Spectacle Types of Punishment
The Church Sexual Morality Church Courts Sermons and Homilies
Honour and Reputation Male and Female Honour Sex Credit Honesty Protection and Restoration
Popular Punishment The Enforcement of Communal Norms Outside of Formal Judicial Venues Public Humiliation as Tool of Enforcement
Charivari
Centralization and State Growth Monopoly of Violence Decline of Noble Power Growth of Bureaucracy Legibility and the Reach of the State
The Rise of the Middling Sort Middling sort grow in wealth and power Urban Trade, Finance, Industry Rural Enclosure, Land Reclamation, Improvement
The Growth of Inequality Growing Gap between Rich and Poor Population Growth Growing Number of Landless People Growth of Wage Labour