Changing SOCIAL HIERARCHIES

Social Structures (1450 - 1750)

• Changes in Social Hierarchies:

  • Social hierarchies evolved during this period; responses varied based on ethnicity and diversity.

• Expulsion vs. Tolerance:

  • Expulsion of Jews:

  • Spain expelled Jews in 1492 post-Reconquista for fears of religious influence.

  • Portugal followed suit due to an alliance with Spain, further limiting options for Jews seeking refuge.

  • Otto-man Empire's Tolerance:

  • Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II welcomed expelled Jews, allowing contributions to economic and cultural life, yet they paid the Gia tax and lived in designated areas.

• Ching Dynasty's Ethnic Division:

  • Established by the Manchu, maintained ethnic division; Manchus held top positions, while ethnic Han faced restrictions and requirements like specific hairstyles as a symbol of dominance.

• Mughal Empire's Open Policies:

  • Under Akbar, the Mughal Empire displayed tolerance by supporting various religions and not imposing the Gia tax.

• Spanish Caste System:

  • Social hierarchy based on race created in the Americas; key groups included:

  • Peninsulares: Born in Iberia (top tier).

  • Creoles: European descent, born in the New World.

  • Mestizos: Mixed European and Indigenous ancestry.

  • Mulattos: Mixed European and African ancestry.

  • Indigenous and enslaved Africans: Bottom tier.

  • The caste system simplified the previously diverse cultural landscape of Indigenous peoples.

• Struggles of Existing Elites:

  • Russian Boyars:

  • Power curtailed by Peter the Great, who abolished the title and centralized authority.

  • Ottoman Timars:

  • Timar system transformed, with Sultans taking control, reducing the power of aristocrats with land grants, leading to loss of wealth and influence.