I - SOCIETY

* Division into three estates:

                            1) Clergy
                            2) Nobility
                            3) Third Estate

* Each estate has its own laws, rules and rights.

 
* Social mobility was severely restricted and linked to birth.

* Clergy and Nobility were privileged estates with many advantages: 

            I)    They didn't pay regular taxes.
            II)   They had own courts.
            III)  They had jurisdiction over assigned territories.
            IV)  They could raise their own taxes and recruit militias. (Feudalism)
Ancien régime society
 A) Nobility
* Descendants:
            - Germanic warriors who invaded and settled in the western part of Roman Empire.
            - Roman landlords who pacted with germanic elites.
 
* Membership -> Hereditary.
 
* Division:
            - High Nobility: 
                / Nobles with administrative responsabilities (Kingdom or own territories)
                / Their titles were granted by the king. (Counts, Dukes, Earl/Marquis)
                / Usually possessed large estates that provided them with high incomes.
            - Low Nobility (Gentry):
                / Originally freemen warriors (Knights)
                / Hereditary system based on primogeniture caused their growth.
                / They didn't have titles and wealth that would guarantee their status.
                / In general they were part of armies of mercenaries and geographical expeditions
 B) Clergy
* Origin:
         - People dedicated serving God and religion.
         - In the middle ages, christianity had become the justification of all thought.
         - Clergy should enjoy privileges as their own prayers intercede for the souls of others
         - Clergy often served the kings as a counterweight to the power of the nobility. 

* Membership:
         - Clergy should be subject to celibacy. Heredity is impossible.
         - To enter clergy the have to be ordained priests and take vows.

* Division:
         - High Clergy: 
           / Clerics of noble origin.
           / They used to have positions of responsability and management (Bishops & abbots)
           / Usually possessed large estates that provided them with high incomes.
         - Low Clergy:
           / Originally from the third estate.
           / They were regular monks or parish priests.
           / They enjoyed the privileges of the clergy in spite of not having wealth.
              
 C) Third Estate
* Composition and duties: 
            - Also known as non-privileged.
            - They were the most of the people (90%)
            - Their task was to work and produce.
            - Owed obedience to their master, either a noble, the Church or king.
            - They have to pay taxes and provide work.

* Division:
            - People from cities (Burghs):   
              /  Bourgeoisie -> Merchants, traders and master craftsmen. They could come to
                                       possess substantian wealth.
              /  Artisans and urban workers -> Labor force that depended on a salary.
 
            - Country people:   
           /Yeoman -> They had small propierties. They could be descendants of low nobility
           /Tenants farmers -> They have to rent the land to landowners. Usually they were        
                                              
                                         bonded to the land.
           /Serfdom -> Unfree peasants. They worked the land of his Lord and were bonded
                             to the land.