The society of estates The European population grew considerably throughout the 18th centur y, especial ly in the second hal f. The bir th rat e was sti l l ver y high , but the death rat e declined because there were fewer epidemics and crop fai lures, people's diets improved , and fewer people died in wars. The society of estat es was based on the exi st ence of priv i leges. Society was div ided into three estat es. The nobi lity and the clerg y were the two privi leged estat es. They enjoyed major advantages, such as being judged by special cour ts and not paying taxes. The commoners, or Third Estat e, did not have these priv i leges. People were born into a cer tain estat e (except the clerg y) and remained there al l their lives. Thi s made it ver y di f f icult to move up in society. A fundamentally agrarian economy Crop agriculture and livestock farming were the main economic activities. In most of Europe, peasants practised subsistence farming. They grew grains using ver y basic tools. (2) Crops depended on the climate and were lost in times of drought or f looding. When this happened , food became scarce, prices rose, and there was famine. Most of the land belonged to the nobility and the clergy. A noble's land could not be divided because the law required the entire plot of land to be inherited by the eldest son . Much of the clergy's land could not be sold because the laws prohibited it. The term used for this situation was mortmain (manos muertas). There was also communal land, such as forests and pastures. The village inhabitants exploited these lands. 1. The society and economy of the Old Regime 1. The nobility led a luxurious life. 2. The wheat harvest The peasantr y was the largest group in society. They paid taxes to the Crown and the nobles. In return , peasants could work on the land and use the mills and bridges. They also paid a tithe to the Church . A few had their own land , but most worked on the land of nobles or the Church as tenants, day labourers or serfs. (2) Serfs needed their lord 's permission to leave the property. The bourgeoisie was made up of merchants, doctors, workshop owners, etc. Some were ver y wealthy. However, their political power was limited to city government. For this reason , they demanded greater participation in government and equality before the law, but the nobility resisted these demands. Third Estate The high nobility, or aristocracy, occupied the high positions in government and the militar y and owned large amounts of property. They levied taxes and had rights over those who worked their land . (1) The low nobility had less money, and often aimed to marr y into wealthy bourgeois families. Nobility The high clergy, which included bishops, archbishops and cardinals, were often the younger sons of noble families. The low clergy (priests, friars, nuns, etc.) was made up of people from commoner families. Clergy 14
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