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)

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