Chapter 3: Changing Roles of Family, Class, and Social Groups in European History
Overview: The evolution of families, classes, and social groups over the period of European history filled extremely different roles and yet were shockingly related. The interplay between families to classes to social groups is remarkable, and reforms and progress in one category is often reflected in the other. For example, the migration of families to cities mirrors and helps the rise of the urban working class, which in turn provided for the rise of the proletariat. These ties can be seen since the beginning of European history. The challenge of scientific progress in the face of set religious standards, to the agricultural revolution, to the rise of the nuclear family, all include the story of the evolution of the family, class, and social group.
Top 10 People:
1. Johannes Gutenburg.
German Craftsman who invented movable type for the printing press
1397-1468
Made literature more widely available which contributed to the development of new social trends.
2. Sigmund Freud.
Austrian psychologist and father of "Psychoanalysis."
1856-1939
Helped to alter the way we view various aspects of society. His concept of the "Oedipus complex" forever changed familial psychology.
3. Martin Luther.
Augustinian monk who nailed his 95 theses to the wall of the Wittenburg church and sparked debate amongst individuals.
1483-1546
Forever changed the organization of the church, the dominant social sphere, and opened the church up to reform based on the desires of society.
4. Elizabeth I
Queen of England during its "Golden Age" She is responsible for the encouragement of various new social trends including the theater.
1533-1603
Brought England to protestantism. Made England
Top 10 Events/Ideas
1. Social Darwinism.
A way to explain and justify classes in society.
1800s
Uses genetic heredity to explains success or failure. Racist.
2. Salons.
Social gatherings of the educated, wealthy, members of society.
enlightenment
Discussed new ideas and formulated opinions through debate. Allowed for the spread of new thoughts.
3. The Enlightenment
Intellectual movement which emphasized reason and the scientific method.
1690-1789
Supported the new science, religious toleration, and political unity. Again, spawned new discussion topic with society and changed the way people viewed religion.
4. The Putting-out System
Accompanied the cottage industry. Gave unfinished materials to rural households.
18th century
Capitalists could bypass guild systems. Cheaper labor. Changed the familial dynamic by incorporating business into the household and encouraging parents to send their kids to work.
5. Socialism
One of the three ideologies which sparked major revolutions within various European nations.
1800s
Values heavy government within most aspects of society.
6. Sadler Report.
Report about the poor conditions of workers in England which led to the creation of child labor laws.
1832
Changed the familial structure by introducing labor laws and hour limitations
7. Existentialism
Philosophy that emerged in the 1920s
Emphasizes the meaninglessness of existence and importance of individuals creating their own meaning
Frederick Nietzsche, Jean-Paul Sarte, and Soren Kirkegaard. Dominant social philosophy of the decade.
8. Communism
A dictatorship where the government controls all land and economics. No private property and emphasis is on the Nation rather than it's people. USSR and People's Republic of China are best examples.
World War II
The ideological expansion of Communism was the biggest fear of many countries, including the US. Thus, many social stigmas were attached to it and a policy of containment was generally supported.
9. New Imperialism
The colonization of nations to increase a country's power on an international scale.
1900s
The primary justification for this was "the white man's burden" It became popular for people to discuss their duty to westernize peoples of the inhabited countries.
10. Estates.
The existing social order in France which was overturned after the French Revolution.
1700s
Cause for rampant inequality and lack of representation. Society was divided into three social spheres.
Top Dog Analysis:
Top Dog Person: Denis Diderot
Denis Diderot was a French philosopher and writer who is most well known for the creation of the Encyclopedia. Diderot was prominent in the age of the Enlightenment, where his ideas were well debated and spread around. As a writer, Diderot challenged conventional book structure. As a philosopher he spoke on the philosophy of free will. However, his crowning achievement was the publication of the Encyclopedia, the first of its kind. The Encyclopedia revolutionized nearly all aspects of life in Europe. By providing massive amounts of information to the general public, Diderot inadvertently increased the awareness of the general public and their ability to make informed political decisions. Diderot’s achievement gave the common family access to trade secrets that allowed for home creation of goods to become possible. The creation and distribution of Diderot’s Encyclopedia forced Europe to take a step forward in the education and information given to commoners, and a step forwards into the future.
Top Dog Idea: Salons
Salons were commonly used by the upper and middle classes in the 17th and 18th centuries as centers of philosophical and political debate. They became known as intellectual centers and were focuses for news and debate. The topics of salons varied to almost all topics, but individual salons often remained specific. As a result, salons could reach nearly everyone. In England and France, the salons were centers of political debate over current circumstances. They were revolutionary hotbeds for the common man, and centers of news distribution. As a social phenomena, salons managed to educate the public and advance awareness of political topics. Salons galvanized a portion of the population into political action, as in France, where salons were being held all the way up to the French Revolution. Overall, salons managed to advance Europe towards democratic leadership by providing an outlet for citizen political input and the realization of popular political clout that majorities hold.
Timeline:
1300: The renaissance begins and establishes a new type of family structure
1521: Martin Luther founded Lutheranism
1530: Huguenots were established based upon john calvin’s beliefs
1528: Baldassarre castiglione helped write a book about how to act in society
1545: During the catholic reformation, King Henry VII took control of the church in england and changed policies towards social groups
1600: The estates that were established in france helped differentiate the rich and poor
1700: The guild system was able to help create jobs to the working class people
1750: The reading revolution was a time period where there was a huge rise in knowledgeable people all around europe.
1762: The social contract was written
1903: The bolsheviks were the majority group in russia that took russia over
1928: Emmeline pankhurst helped give women a voice in the early 1900s
Images:
Top 10 People:
1. Johannes Gutenburg.
German Craftsman who invented movable type for the printing press
1397-1468
Made literature more widely available which contributed to the development of new social trends.
2. Sigmund Freud.
Austrian psychologist and father of "Psychoanalysis."
1856-1939
Helped to alter the way we view various aspects of society. His concept of the "Oedipus complex" forever changed familial psychology.
3. Martin Luther.
Augustinian monk who nailed his 95 theses to the wall of the Wittenburg church and sparked debate amongst individuals.
1483-1546
Forever changed the organization of the church, the dominant social sphere, and opened the church up to reform based on the desires of society.
4. Elizabeth I
Queen of England during its "Golden Age" She is responsible for the encouragement of various new social trends including the theater.
1533-1603
Brought England to protestantism. Made England
Top 10 Events/Ideas
1. Social Darwinism.
A way to explain and justify classes in society.
1800s
Uses genetic heredity to explains success or failure. Racist.
2. Salons.
Social gatherings of the educated, wealthy, members of society.
enlightenment
Discussed new ideas and formulated opinions through debate. Allowed for the spread of new thoughts.
3. The Enlightenment
Intellectual movement which emphasized reason and the scientific method.
1690-1789
Supported the new science, religious toleration, and political unity. Again, spawned new discussion topic with society and changed the way people viewed religion.
4. The Putting-out System
Accompanied the cottage industry. Gave unfinished materials to rural households.
18th century
Capitalists could bypass guild systems. Cheaper labor. Changed the familial dynamic by incorporating business into the household and encouraging parents to send their kids to work.
5. Socialism
One of the three ideologies which sparked major revolutions within various European nations.
1800s
Values heavy government within most aspects of society.
6. Sadler Report.
Report about the poor conditions of workers in England which led to the creation of child labor laws.
1832
Changed the familial structure by introducing labor laws and hour limitations
7. Existentialism
Philosophy that emerged in the 1920s
Emphasizes the meaninglessness of existence and importance of individuals creating their own meaning
Frederick Nietzsche, Jean-Paul Sarte, and Soren Kirkegaard. Dominant social philosophy of the decade.
8. Communism
A dictatorship where the government controls all land and economics. No private property and emphasis is on the Nation rather than it's people. USSR and People's Republic of China are best examples.
World War II
The ideological expansion of Communism was the biggest fear of many countries, including the US. Thus, many social stigmas were attached to it and a policy of containment was generally supported.
9. New Imperialism
The colonization of nations to increase a country's power on an international scale.
1900s
The primary justification for this was "the white man's burden" It became popular for people to discuss their duty to westernize peoples of the inhabited countries.
10. Estates.
The existing social order in France which was overturned after the French Revolution.
1700s
Cause for rampant inequality and lack of representation. Society was divided into three social spheres.
Top Dog Analysis:
Top Dog Person: Denis Diderot
Denis Diderot was a French philosopher and writer who is most well known for the creation of the Encyclopedia. Diderot was prominent in the age of the Enlightenment, where his ideas were well debated and spread around. As a writer, Diderot challenged conventional book structure. As a philosopher he spoke on the philosophy of free will. However, his crowning achievement was the publication of the Encyclopedia, the first of its kind. The Encyclopedia revolutionized nearly all aspects of life in Europe. By providing massive amounts of information to the general public, Diderot inadvertently increased the awareness of the general public and their ability to make informed political decisions. Diderot’s achievement gave the common family access to trade secrets that allowed for home creation of goods to become possible. The creation and distribution of Diderot’s Encyclopedia forced Europe to take a step forward in the education and information given to commoners, and a step forwards into the future.
Top Dog Idea: Salons
Salons were commonly used by the upper and middle classes in the 17th and 18th centuries as centers of philosophical and political debate. They became known as intellectual centers and were focuses for news and debate. The topics of salons varied to almost all topics, but individual salons often remained specific. As a result, salons could reach nearly everyone. In England and France, the salons were centers of political debate over current circumstances. They were revolutionary hotbeds for the common man, and centers of news distribution. As a social phenomena, salons managed to educate the public and advance awareness of political topics. Salons galvanized a portion of the population into political action, as in France, where salons were being held all the way up to the French Revolution. Overall, salons managed to advance Europe towards democratic leadership by providing an outlet for citizen political input and the realization of popular political clout that majorities hold.
Timeline:
1300: The renaissance begins and establishes a new type of family structure
1521: Martin Luther founded Lutheranism
1530: Huguenots were established based upon john calvin’s beliefs
1528: Baldassarre castiglione helped write a book about how to act in society
1545: During the catholic reformation, King Henry VII took control of the church in england and changed policies towards social groups
1600: The estates that were established in france helped differentiate the rich and poor
1700: The guild system was able to help create jobs to the working class people
1750: The reading revolution was a time period where there was a huge rise in knowledgeable people all around europe.
1762: The social contract was written
1903: The bolsheviks were the majority group in russia that took russia over
1928: Emmeline pankhurst helped give women a voice in the early 1900s
Images:
Women's rights movements gained momentum in the late 20th century. Here, women march for the right to vote.
Class struggles often lead to violent revolutions. In some instances, they resulted in the political action and a betterment of the lives of the participants.
Upper classes have always been characterized with excessive housing. Here, the Palace of Versailles embodies the upper classes' access to immense resources and lavish living quarters.
In this photo the industrialization of a city generates a massive industrial district. Families migrated to cities to work, and formed a class of workers.
The class of workers that moved to work in the cities began to exert a large political force, and were often the center of socialist or communist ideology.
Family units evolved greatly over the course of European history, here peasant workers are forced into crammed living spaces, allowing for sickness to spread easily.
Living space in the cities was poor for families in the urban working class. Eventually, these people evolved to fight for their rights.
Here we see serfs in Eastern Europe working in a field. The class of serfs was eventually abolished with the fall of serfdom.
Avant Garde lifestyle pushed the extermes of fashion in the 1930s. It displayed the mobility of the new upper middle class.
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