70 likes | 159 Views
Italian Renaissance life . Social Life. During the Renaissance in Italy, society was divided into three groups, called Estates First Estate = Clergy Second Estate = Nobility (2-3% of population) Third Estate = Peasants and Inhabitants of Towns (85-90% of population). The 2 nd estate.
E N D
Social Life • During the Renaissance in Italy, society was divided into three groups, called Estates • First Estate = Clergy • Second Estate = Nobility (2-3% of population) • Third Estate = Peasants and Inhabitants of Towns (85-90% of population)
The 2nd estate • The nobility consisted of military officers, important politicians, and king’s advisors • Education was usually necessary in order to maintain this position in society • According to The Book of the Courtier (Baldassare Castiglione), nobles should possess fundamental endowments (talent, grace, noble birth), participate in military exercise, have classical education, and be skilled in arts and music.
The 3rd Estate • Decline of serfdom continued into the renaissance as commerce and trade increased • Other than peasants, the third estate also included merchants in towns, who formed the bourgeoisie • 30-40% of city population were unemployed or propertyless workers. • ‘If the lowest order of society earn enough food to keep them going from day to day, then they have enough” • -A member of the 2nd estate, speaking of the lower class
Slavery • In cities, slaves were used as skilled workers or as household workers • Most slaves were imported from the eastern Mediterranean, the Black Sea region and Africa • By the 16th century, slavery had declined in popularity
Economy • An economic depression of the 14th century began to recover • New, luxury industries (silk, glassware, handworked metals and gemstones) began to emerge • New technologies allowed miners to dig deeper and more effectively separate metals from ore • Letterpress printing was invented • The House of Medici was the largest bank in Europe, and was the principal bank of the papacy.
Family Life • Family was an important part of Renaissance life • A father/husband as the head of the family • Most marriages in wealthy families were arranged. The size of a bride’s dowry determined if she would move up or down in social class • Adulthood was not reached at a certain age. A father had to go before a judge to “free” his children in order for them to be considered adults • A woman’s primary function in the family was to bear children • 10% of mothers died in childbirth • 50% of children died before reaching the age of 20 • Conflicts between families were common.