EN - I think therefore I am; Culture in the Age of Enlightenment. (Lesson)

I think therefore I am; Culture in the Age of Enlightenment.

"Middling Sort"/Bourgeoisie

were traders and merchants.
ranged from wealthy entrepreneurs to struggling retail merchants and innkeepers.
could purchase land (and often the titles that were associated with the land).
out of their ranks came lawyers and physicians as well as surgeons (generally these were former barbers, anatomy was now being taught in schools, but surgical skills were expected to be learned ON the job).

Peasants

formed vast majority of the population (75-90% depending on the country).
were the source of wealth that sustained the crown, nobility, and church.
not well respected. Bavarian officials saw them as a hybrid of man and animal.
villages were the center of their universe.
viewed outsiders with suspicion.
30 to 70% of their income went to taxes.
some could own land, but many were constantly in debt as they borrowed against the next harvest.

In West Europe

serfdom was almost non-existent.
nobles presided over local courts which added to their income by levying legal fees and fines (What types of fees? You could be fined or face a fee for poaching, trespassing, civil suits, inheritances, guardianships, etc).
taxes included the taille (land tax), gabelle (salt tax), and the corvee (labor tax, typically utilized for working on roads, could be anywhere from 2 days - France - to 200 days - Denmark).
other duties included providing food for holidays, food for the lord's dogs, spinning or weaving cloth for the lord.
death and Estate taxes were common, typically paid with money as well as the deceased's best animal.

Conditions worsened the further east one went

peasants in Russia lived in hovels made from earth, clay, straw, branches and twigs; floors were made of mud, beds of straw.
only the relatively wealthy could afford wood.
all must swear an oath of loyalty.
very few free peasants, majority were still serfs.
gallows were often next to the Manor house, in plain view to serve as a warning.
Polish nobles could execute serfs, Russian lords could sentence them to hard labor or torture them provided the serf did not die immediately from the torture.
serfdom in Russia in particular became more in line with slavery, serfs could now be bought and sold, they could also be given away as part of a noble's dowry.
serfs could be sold individually or as a family, could be exchanged for animals.
lords could refuse to allow serfs to marry and could choose their occupation for them.
a poll tax was instituted on all males (souls) of which only nobles were exempt. Villages were collectively responsible for payment.
25 year army conscription was common (most soldiers did not survive the 25 years).
resentment built and led to rebellion - Pugachev rebellion (1773-1774) several million peasants went against the lords, 3,000 landowners died. before it ended. Rebels were hung by hooks through their ribs.

Urban Growth

most of Europe is rural, but some areas begin to urbanize.
people followed the jobs, leading them into cities.
by the end of the 18th century, Europe had 22 cities ranging in population from 170,000 (Berlin) to 950,000 (London).
1/5 of the British population lived in London at one time or another.

Leisure activities develop

theaters and concert halls are built (this is the time of Mozart, Bach, Handel).
cafe's are opened, coffee is only available to the wealthy, the poor drink beer at taverns.
French became the language of the upperclass.
some nobles go broke buying expensive foods, wines and other luxury goods.
3 cornered hats, wigs and stockings become symbols of the upper class.
walls spring up around homes as a barrier between the rich and poor.
expanded publishing (25 periodicals in 1700 that number jumps to 158 by 1780).

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