Social Structure of the Old Regime

Demographic Changes In the 18th c. Europe’s population continued a stead and significant growth Factors that account for this: Diet Transportation improvements Decline of the plague Weather Medical Improvements

All of Europe took park in the population growth Urban areas grew fastest

The Class System European society continued to be divided into “estates” Most nations continued to grant privilege for those who claimed hereditary descent from noble blood Wealthy merchants and cash-strapped nobles often saw the benefit of blending families

Family Life and Child Rearing Family remained predominantly nuclear Average age at first marriage was often mid to late 20s for both men and women Families generally labored together as a family unit

In agricultural settings, tasks tended to divide based on gender Children were expected to contribute productive labor at an early age

Strong community controls in early modern Europe had ensured that couples avoided having children out of wedlock Between 1750 and 1850, a rapid increase of illegitimacy occurred Unfortunate consequences of out of wedlock births were the related problems of infanticide and child abandonment

Children were viewed as sinful Parents were warned to strongly discipline children Children were tightly swaddled to restrict their natural impulsive movements Upper class women relied on wet nurses to provide nutrition Views of children changed slowly during the 18th c.