History 2520                                                  Europe in the Nineteenth Century: 1815-1914

Fall 2005                                                                                                                J. Sperber

 

Europe in 1815: Society and Economy

 

Main lecture theme:  The ways Europeans organized their economic production and social structure in an age of low productivity

 

1.     Peasants

A. Prevalence

B. Production

i.  Collectivity

ii. Three field agriculture

C. Freedom and servitude

i. The realm of free farmers

ii. The realm of serfs

D. Social Structure

i. Horse farmers

ii. Ox farmers

iii. Goat farmers

2.     Craftsmen

A. Traditional crafts

i. Townspeople

ii. Local markets

iii. Well organized occupational structure

B. Proto-industry

i. Countryside

ii. Large, world markets

iii. Merchants and outworking

3.     Families and Households

A. The household as unit of production

B.  Lifecycle and social standing

C. The European marriage pattern

4.     Men and Women

A. In the city

B. In the country

5.     Moving About

A. Journeymen

B. Seasonal

C. Country to city

D. Long distance

6.     The Upper Classes

A. Aristocracy

B. Bourgeoisie

C. ÒState-bearersÓ