Social Class in Medieval Society

1. Social Class in Medieval Society

2. Do Now Turn to a partner and discuss the following questions: • What is social class? • How many social classes are there in your society today?

3. What is a Social Class? A group of people who have similar positions in a society’s economic system in terms of wealth, status, power, and access to resources

4. Social Class in Modern United States • # of classes = arguable • Lower Class = 15-20% • Working class = 30-40% • Middle class = 40-50% • Lower middle class • Upper middle class • Upper class = 1-3%

5. Social Class in Modern United States

6. Social Class: Different sources have different measures

7. Social Class in Modern United States • Lower Class – homeless, poverty, unemployed • Working class – unskilled laborers, poorly educated • Factory workers, craftspeople • Deliverymen, restaurant workers • Little chance to advance career • Blue collar workers = dangerous jobs • Carpenters, plumbers, electricians

8. Social Class in the United States • Middle class – two groups: • Lower middle – less educated people w/ lower incomes • Teachers, secretaries, small business owners • Upper middle – highly educated businesspeople, high incomes • Doctors, lawyers, CEOs, engineers, professors • Upper class – over 25% of U.S. wealth • Institutional leadership • Lower-Upper – people who earned money from business and investments • Upper-upper – inherited wealth

9. Now let’s take a look at social class in Medieval England.

10. Medieval English Society • Three “estates” • Estate – a political or social group that has unique powers • 1. Nobility • 2. Church • 3. Common people

11. Nobility • King and royal court • Always worried about money • Tried to centralize power all the time

12. Nobility • Other nobility • Knights = right below ruling class • 14th century: 1,000 knights in England • Envious of king’s powers • Tried to decentralize power • Favored war • Lots of land, but little money • Disliked royal court’s excessive lifestyle

13. The Church • 13th century: 1 in 50 men were clerics • Archbishop of Canterbury = head of Anglican Diocese • Like the Pope for the Catholic Church • 17,500 monks and nuns • Increasing education for Church leaders and worshipers • Dishonesty • People wanted independence of church and state • Taxes were paid to the Pope = angered the kings

14. Common People / Middle Class • Took care of the basic needs of society • Various levels • Upper middle class • Merchants, doctors • Made decent amount of money • Dishonesty • Peasants = poorer agricultural workers

15. Check-In What similarities do you see between the division of social classes in our society today and the division of classes in Medieval England?

16. Activity: Meet the Pilgrims Preparation: • 1. Choose 1 pilgrim card randomly. • 2. Stand up. • 3. Orange cards: move to the back right corner of the room • 4. Blue cards: move to the back right corner • 5. Yellow cards: move to desks in the front of the room

17. Activity: Meet the Pilgrims Directions: • 1. We will make our way around the room. When it is your turn, introduce your character. • 2. Tell the class least three (3) facts about your pilgrim, based on the information on the card. • 3. Be respectful and listen to your classmates while speaking. You may be called on at random to repeat the details of a classmate’s character.