1. Social Class in Medieval Society

2. Do Now Turn to a partner and discuss the following questions: 1.What is social class? 1.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 14 th 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 13 th 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.