Chapter 15: The Experiences of Life in Early Modern Europe, 1500-1650

Culture was dictated by the classes and not geography or the country

There was an increase in agricultural production, population, and commodity prices

90% of the people resided on farms and small villages

Social organization focused on 3 factors

• Manor, Parish, and Rural Administration

Bad harvests presented a constant threat

Lords owned the lands, commonly rented it

Western European peasants were in ownership of a greater percentage of land

Social and economic life was dominated by Guilds

• Set standard for labor conditions, wages, training

Towns were interdependent on other towns and the countryside

Population grew between 1550-1650

• Caused conflicts in cities

• Increased crime and poverty

• Lower wages

Prices of goods increased greatly between 1550 and 1650

• Happened due to population increase, war, increase in precious metals

There was a social hierarchy

• Wealth was a poor indicator of one’s position while Status was what mattered

Body Politic

• Metaphor which saw the state as a body

  • Head: Rulers

  • Arms: Protectors

  • Hands: Crafts

  • Stomach: Nourished

  • Feet: Labor

  • Soul: Church

• There was an implication of interdependence and hierarchy

Social Classes

• Nobles had privileges and obligations

• Wealthy farmers with tenants began to act like nobles

• Rise of Gentry created a rift between new money and old money

• New Rich

  • expanded wealth and population

  • created demand for increased ruling class

  • Due to Price Revolution

• New Poor

  • Greater dislocation of the poor

  • Due to Price Revolution

Peasant Revolts took place

• German Peasants’ War (uprisings)

Life consisted of new worlds, religious reform, centralization of state, and war

The nuclear family was a married couple with children

Women went through as many pregnancies as possible and worked in the household

Men worked in public and were viewed as the leadership within the house

Wedding served as public events that were a rite of passage into the adult community

Witchcraft was believed to be the use of magic for evil

• 30,000 victims from 1550-1650 (80% women)