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4.7 Changing Social Hierarchies: Class and Race from 1450-1750

7 min readmarch 16, 2023

Amanda DoAmaral

Amanda DoAmaral

Riya Patel

Riya Patel

Amanda DoAmaral

Amanda DoAmaral

Riya Patel

Riya Patel

Changing Social Hierarchies

During the period from 1450 to 1750, class and race were significant factors that shaped the social, economic, and political landscape of many parts of the world. In Europe, the rigid class structure that emerged during the Middle Ages persisted, with the nobility, the clergy, and the commoners each occupying a distinct place in society. The emergence of the and the growth of trade and commerce during this period challenged the traditional class structure and created new opportunities for social mobility. In the Americas, the arrival of European colonizers and the importation of African slaves created a complex system of racial hierarchy, with Europeans at the top, followed by (people of mixed African and European ancestry), (people of mixed European and indigenous American ancestry), and Africans at the bottom. These racial categories were used to justify the exploitation and oppression of certain groups and to maintain the dominance of others. In Asia, the in India, which dictated social status based on a person's birth, also persisted during this period and shaped the relationship between different groups in society.

The expansion of trade on a global scale expanded both the upper elite class and the lower labor class. Global trade was insanely profitable and new elite classes enjoyed this wealth. Meanwhile, the population of forced laborers increased, further expanding the wealth gap.

🎥Watch: WHAP - Changing Social Hierarchies 1450-1750

Gunpowder Empires

💣Quick reminder! The gunpowder empires included the Ottoman, Mughal, and Safavid. 

Ottoman society was complex. The Sultans ruled the top of the pyramid and had powers to grant rewards to favored groups, such as soldiers. The middle class included the military, scholars, and other bureaucratic groups.

Within the military, the gained power and tried to overthrow the Sultan.

For its time, the practiced a surprising amount of religious tolerance for Jews and Christians. Although non-Muslims were forced to pay the jizya tax, many Jews that had been expelled from Spain and Portugal migrated to the , which expanded its power.

Meanwhile, the under was even more tolerant as they abolished the jizya tax and supported the expansion of (blend of Hinduism and Islam).

Women in the also experienced some expanded freedoms. Some women, such as , climbed the social ladder from slave to wife of the Ottoman ruler Suleiman the Great. This was an extreme case of class mobility, but is an example of what was possible.

China

The was ruled by the , a nomadic ground of people from northeastern China who conquered the Ming dynasty and established their own rule over China. This was yet another historical example of a minority group ruling a majority group (see: Mughals, colonialism). 

Although they adopted political traditions in China, the Qing were committed to making the Manchu culture dominant. During the in China (1644-1912), it was customary for men to wear their hair in a long braid called a queue. The queue was worn as a sign of submission to the Qing authorities, who had required all male subjects to wear their hair in this manner as a symbol of their loyalty. The queue was worn by men of all social classes, although the specific style of the queue varied according to social status. The queue was worn in a variety of styles, including a single braid that was worn down the back, or two braids that were worn on either side of the head.

The majority faced the most intolerance from the Qing. Often times, Han men would side with the Qing and carry out mass murders of Han men refusing to wear the Manchu hairstyle. 

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2Fqueue.PNG?alt=media&token=c13cc0f8-be41-4fe7-8f47-8764dd2a3596

Queue hairstyle. Image Courtesy of ziyadtheartnerd.wordpress

Europe

European society was ruled by a royal family that gained enormous wealth from trade and corruption. Below the royals was a second class of the nobility, a small wealthy group that owned most of the land.

Nobles had influence in Parliament, but no power over the royals. The commoners were the lowest class and often challenged the nobility. After a failed revolt from commoners, committed to keeping power from the common people or the nobles, “I am the state.” 👑

Louis XIV

, also known as the Sun King, was the King of France from 1643 to 1715. He is known for his long reign and for his significant contributions to the arts and culture of France. was an absolute monarch, and he centralized the government and strengthened the power of the monarchy. He also oversaw the expansion of the French empire and the establishment of France as a major European power. is remembered for his lavish courts and his support of the arts, which helped to make France a cultural center of Europe during his reign. He is also known for his extravagance and his excesses, which contributed to the financial problems that plagued France in the later years of his reign and beyond.

Jewish Diaspora

In the 15th and 16th centuries, Jewish communities faced increased in Western Europe. ( refers to prejudice, discrimination, or hatred against Jews as a religious, ethnic, or racial group.)

In Spain, Ferdinand and Isabella expelled the entire Jewish population, which sent them migrating all over the world. 

Jews of Spanish descent that migrated to North Africa and the Middle East are referred to as Sephardic. Jewish populations descended from eastern and central Europe are called Ashkenazi. Both groups would experience a diaspora by the 20th century.

The and were intellectual movements that took place in Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries. They were characterized by a focus on reason, individual rights, and the power of human knowledge. These movements had a number of important consequences, including the spread of ideas about democracy, freedom, and human rights, and the development of new scientific and technological advances. It is true that these movements also contributed to a greater tolerance for Jews in Europe. During the , ideas about the inherent worth and dignity of all human beings, regardless of their religion or ethnicity, began to gain traction. This led to a greater acceptance of Jews and other minority groups, and to the emergence of new forms of Jewish expression and identity. The also challenged traditional religious beliefs and ways of understanding the world, and this contributed to a greater tolerance for Jews and other minority groups. However, it is important to note that persisted throughout this period and beyond, and that Jews continued to face discrimination and persecution in many parts of Europe.

The Netherlands was particularly tolerant for Europe at the time, so many Jews migrated there and worked in the booming financial industry. This connection would later be used to scapegoat Jews for economic downturns.

Russia

In Russia, the social classes were similar to the rest of Europe, except that they continued to practice .

The Russian nobility, known as Boyars, were members of the highest rank of the feudal aristocracy in medieval and early modern Russia. They were the highest-ranking officials in the government and held significant political and economic power. Boyars were typically members of the nobility, and they held large estates with serfs who worked the land. The boyars played a significant role in the government and administration of Russia and were a major force in Russian politics.

Below them were the merchants. 

At the bottom was the largest class of peasants, many of whom sank into debt and were forced into . As serfs, they were completely tied to the land and sold when the land sold.

The Americas

The most dramatic social changes happened in the Americas because of the influx of Europeans, the decimation of Indigenous, and the explosion of the African slave trade. Social classes in the Americas were based on race, which is a pivotal difference from the rest of the world.

In the British North American colonies, Europeans, Natives, and African slaves remained separate classes that rarely mixed. Although mixed children existed, primarily because of forced assaults, the societal norm was segregation, and policies supported this tradition.

In the Spanish and Portuguese colonies, things were different. In an effort to whiten society, Europeans were encouraged to procreate with the Indigenous and African communities. 

All of the ethnic combinations created new social classes organized by race with the whitest at the top. The , or Europeans born in Spain or Portugal, were at the top and served as representatives of the royal crown. The Creole class was born in the Americas but had the next highest privileges with their pure European descent. 

🔺The mixed classes, or the castas, had its own pyramid within a pyramid🔺

  • = are people of mixed European and indigenous American ancestry.

  • = are people of mixed European and African ancestry.

  • Zambos = Zambos are people of mixed African and indigenous American ancestry.

  • All other Indigenous communities

  • African slaves

Key Terms to Review (28)

Akbar the Great

: Akbar the Great was one of the most effective and influential Mughal emperors in India. He ruled from 1556 to 1605, and is known for his policy of religious tolerance and efforts to unify his empire through administrative reforms.

Anti-Semitism

: Anti-Semitism is prejudice against, hatred of, or discrimination against Jews as a religious, ethnic or racial group.

Ashkenazi Jews

: Ashkenazi Jews are a Jewish ethnic division that coalesced in the Holy Roman Empire around the end of the first millennium. They are known for their use of Yiddish language.

Boyar Class

: The Boyar class was a privileged social class of high-ranking nobility in Russia, second only to the ruling princes, from 10th through 17th century.

Castas Pyramid

: The Castas Pyramid was a hierarchical social structure established by the Spanish in their colonies, particularly in Latin America during the 16th to 18th centuries. It categorized people based on their racial and ethnic background, with Europeans at the top and indigenous peoples and Africans at the bottom.

Caste System

: A caste system is a social structure where people are divided into distinct levels based on their birth, occupation, or wealth, and these divisions often determine their social status, rights, and opportunities.

Changing Social Hierarchies

: This refers to the transformation of social structures over time, often due to economic, political, or cultural shifts. These changes can lead to different groups gaining or losing status and power.

Creole Class

: The Creole class refers to people born in the New World colonies but of pure European descent. They were typically wealthy landowners but ranked below peninsulares in the social hierarchy.

Enlightenment

: The Enlightenment was an intellectual and philosophical movement that dominated the world of ideas in Europe during the 17th to 19th century. It emphasized reason, analysis, and individualism rather than traditional lines of authority.

Gunpowder Empires

: The term "Gunpowder Empires" refers to several Islamic states during the late medieval and early modern periods (16th-18th centuries), including Ottoman Turkey, Safavid Iran, and Mughal India. These empires expanded their territories through successful military campaigns using gunpowder firearms technology.

Han Ethnicity

: The Han ethnicity is the largest ethnic group in China, making up about 92% of the population. They are known for their significant contributions to Chinese culture, language, history, and societal norms.

Janissaries

: The Janissaries were an elite military group in the Ottoman Empire, made up of Christian boys who were taken from their homes, converted to Islam, and trained to serve the sultan.

Jewish Diaspora

: The Jewish Diaspora refers to the dispersion of Jews beyond Israel. This has occurred several times in history, most notably after the Babylonian exile and after the Roman destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE.

Louis XIV

: Louis XIV, also known as the Sun King, was a monarch of the House of Bourbon who reigned as King of France from 1643 until his death in 1715. His reign is often associated with the concept of absolute monarchy and he's famous for saying "L'etat c'est moi" or "I am the state."

Manchus

: The Manchus are an ethnic minority in China originating from Northeast Asia. They established and ruled over the Qing Dynasty.

Merchant Class

: This is a socio-economic class comprising business people engaged in retail trade. They emerged as towns grew during the Middle Ages and became increasingly important during periods like the Renaissance and Industrial Revolution.

Mestizos

: Mestizos are people of mixed indigenous American and European ancestry.

Mughal Empire

: The Mughal Empire was an Islamic empire that ruled most of India from 1526 to 1857, known for its rich culture, architectural achievements like Taj Mahal, and administrative efficiency.

Mulattoes

: This term historically referred to individuals of mixed African and European descent during colonial times. They often occupied a social status between those of Europeans and full-blood Africans.

Ottoman Empire

: The Ottoman Empire was a state that controlled much of Southeastern Europe, Western Asia, and Northern Africa between the 14th and early 20th centuries. It was founded at the end of the 13th century in northwestern Anatolia by Osman I.

Peninsulares

: Peninsulares were Spanish-born individuals residing in the New World or the Spanish East Indies.

Qing Dynasty

: The Qing Dynasty, also known as the Manchu Dynasty, was the last imperial dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912. It was characterized by its powerful bureaucracy and emphasis on Confucian principles.

Queue Hairstyle

: The queue hairstyle was a specific hairdo worn by Chinese men during the Qing Dynasty. It involved shaving the front of the head and braiding the rest of the hair into a long ponytail.

Roxelana

: Roxelana was the chief consort and legal wife of Suleiman the Magnificent, Sultan of the Ottoman Empire. She had significant influence over state affairs and initiated various charitable works.

Scientific Revolution

: The Scientific Revolution was a series of events that marked the emergence of modern science during the early modern period when developments in mathematics, physics, astronomy, biology (including human anatomy) transformed views about society and nature.

Sephardic Jews

: Sephardic Jews are those who originally resided in Spain or Portugal before being expelled in the late 15th century. They have their unique traditions and dialect known as Ladino.

Serfdom

: This was a status of peasants under feudalism, specifically relating to manorialism. It was a condition of bondage or modified slavery which developed primarily during the High Middle Ages in Europe and lasted in some countries until the mid-19th century.

Sikhism

: Sikhism is a monotheistic religion founded in Punjab in the 15th century by Guru Nanak. It emphasizes faith, meditation on God's name, truthful living, and community service.

4.7 Changing Social Hierarchies: Class and Race from 1450-1750

7 min readmarch 16, 2023

Amanda DoAmaral

Amanda DoAmaral

Riya Patel

Riya Patel

Amanda DoAmaral

Amanda DoAmaral

Riya Patel

Riya Patel

Changing Social Hierarchies

During the period from 1450 to 1750, class and race were significant factors that shaped the social, economic, and political landscape of many parts of the world. In Europe, the rigid class structure that emerged during the Middle Ages persisted, with the nobility, the clergy, and the commoners each occupying a distinct place in society. The emergence of the and the growth of trade and commerce during this period challenged the traditional class structure and created new opportunities for social mobility. In the Americas, the arrival of European colonizers and the importation of African slaves created a complex system of racial hierarchy, with Europeans at the top, followed by (people of mixed African and European ancestry), (people of mixed European and indigenous American ancestry), and Africans at the bottom. These racial categories were used to justify the exploitation and oppression of certain groups and to maintain the dominance of others. In Asia, the in India, which dictated social status based on a person's birth, also persisted during this period and shaped the relationship between different groups in society.

The expansion of trade on a global scale expanded both the upper elite class and the lower labor class. Global trade was insanely profitable and new elite classes enjoyed this wealth. Meanwhile, the population of forced laborers increased, further expanding the wealth gap.

🎥Watch: WHAP - Changing Social Hierarchies 1450-1750

Gunpowder Empires

💣Quick reminder! The gunpowder empires included the Ottoman, Mughal, and Safavid. 

Ottoman society was complex. The Sultans ruled the top of the pyramid and had powers to grant rewards to favored groups, such as soldiers. The middle class included the military, scholars, and other bureaucratic groups.

Within the military, the gained power and tried to overthrow the Sultan.

For its time, the practiced a surprising amount of religious tolerance for Jews and Christians. Although non-Muslims were forced to pay the jizya tax, many Jews that had been expelled from Spain and Portugal migrated to the , which expanded its power.

Meanwhile, the under was even more tolerant as they abolished the jizya tax and supported the expansion of (blend of Hinduism and Islam).

Women in the also experienced some expanded freedoms. Some women, such as , climbed the social ladder from slave to wife of the Ottoman ruler Suleiman the Great. This was an extreme case of class mobility, but is an example of what was possible.

China

The was ruled by the , a nomadic ground of people from northeastern China who conquered the Ming dynasty and established their own rule over China. This was yet another historical example of a minority group ruling a majority group (see: Mughals, colonialism). 

Although they adopted political traditions in China, the Qing were committed to making the Manchu culture dominant. During the in China (1644-1912), it was customary for men to wear their hair in a long braid called a queue. The queue was worn as a sign of submission to the Qing authorities, who had required all male subjects to wear their hair in this manner as a symbol of their loyalty. The queue was worn by men of all social classes, although the specific style of the queue varied according to social status. The queue was worn in a variety of styles, including a single braid that was worn down the back, or two braids that were worn on either side of the head.

The majority faced the most intolerance from the Qing. Often times, Han men would side with the Qing and carry out mass murders of Han men refusing to wear the Manchu hairstyle. 

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2Fqueue.PNG?alt=media&token=c13cc0f8-be41-4fe7-8f47-8764dd2a3596

Queue hairstyle. Image Courtesy of ziyadtheartnerd.wordpress

Europe

European society was ruled by a royal family that gained enormous wealth from trade and corruption. Below the royals was a second class of the nobility, a small wealthy group that owned most of the land.

Nobles had influence in Parliament, but no power over the royals. The commoners were the lowest class and often challenged the nobility. After a failed revolt from commoners, committed to keeping power from the common people or the nobles, “I am the state.” 👑

Louis XIV

, also known as the Sun King, was the King of France from 1643 to 1715. He is known for his long reign and for his significant contributions to the arts and culture of France. was an absolute monarch, and he centralized the government and strengthened the power of the monarchy. He also oversaw the expansion of the French empire and the establishment of France as a major European power. is remembered for his lavish courts and his support of the arts, which helped to make France a cultural center of Europe during his reign. He is also known for his extravagance and his excesses, which contributed to the financial problems that plagued France in the later years of his reign and beyond.

Jewish Diaspora

In the 15th and 16th centuries, Jewish communities faced increased in Western Europe. ( refers to prejudice, discrimination, or hatred against Jews as a religious, ethnic, or racial group.)

In Spain, Ferdinand and Isabella expelled the entire Jewish population, which sent them migrating all over the world. 

Jews of Spanish descent that migrated to North Africa and the Middle East are referred to as Sephardic. Jewish populations descended from eastern and central Europe are called Ashkenazi. Both groups would experience a diaspora by the 20th century.

The and were intellectual movements that took place in Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries. They were characterized by a focus on reason, individual rights, and the power of human knowledge. These movements had a number of important consequences, including the spread of ideas about democracy, freedom, and human rights, and the development of new scientific and technological advances. It is true that these movements also contributed to a greater tolerance for Jews in Europe. During the , ideas about the inherent worth and dignity of all human beings, regardless of their religion or ethnicity, began to gain traction. This led to a greater acceptance of Jews and other minority groups, and to the emergence of new forms of Jewish expression and identity. The also challenged traditional religious beliefs and ways of understanding the world, and this contributed to a greater tolerance for Jews and other minority groups. However, it is important to note that persisted throughout this period and beyond, and that Jews continued to face discrimination and persecution in many parts of Europe.

The Netherlands was particularly tolerant for Europe at the time, so many Jews migrated there and worked in the booming financial industry. This connection would later be used to scapegoat Jews for economic downturns.

Russia

In Russia, the social classes were similar to the rest of Europe, except that they continued to practice .

The Russian nobility, known as Boyars, were members of the highest rank of the feudal aristocracy in medieval and early modern Russia. They were the highest-ranking officials in the government and held significant political and economic power. Boyars were typically members of the nobility, and they held large estates with serfs who worked the land. The boyars played a significant role in the government and administration of Russia and were a major force in Russian politics.

Below them were the merchants. 

At the bottom was the largest class of peasants, many of whom sank into debt and were forced into . As serfs, they were completely tied to the land and sold when the land sold.

The Americas

The most dramatic social changes happened in the Americas because of the influx of Europeans, the decimation of Indigenous, and the explosion of the African slave trade. Social classes in the Americas were based on race, which is a pivotal difference from the rest of the world.

In the British North American colonies, Europeans, Natives, and African slaves remained separate classes that rarely mixed. Although mixed children existed, primarily because of forced assaults, the societal norm was segregation, and policies supported this tradition.

In the Spanish and Portuguese colonies, things were different. In an effort to whiten society, Europeans were encouraged to procreate with the Indigenous and African communities. 

All of the ethnic combinations created new social classes organized by race with the whitest at the top. The , or Europeans born in Spain or Portugal, were at the top and served as representatives of the royal crown. The Creole class was born in the Americas but had the next highest privileges with their pure European descent. 

🔺The mixed classes, or the castas, had its own pyramid within a pyramid🔺

  • = are people of mixed European and indigenous American ancestry.

  • = are people of mixed European and African ancestry.

  • Zambos = Zambos are people of mixed African and indigenous American ancestry.

  • All other Indigenous communities

  • African slaves

Key Terms to Review (28)

Akbar the Great

: Akbar the Great was one of the most effective and influential Mughal emperors in India. He ruled from 1556 to 1605, and is known for his policy of religious tolerance and efforts to unify his empire through administrative reforms.

Anti-Semitism

: Anti-Semitism is prejudice against, hatred of, or discrimination against Jews as a religious, ethnic or racial group.

Ashkenazi Jews

: Ashkenazi Jews are a Jewish ethnic division that coalesced in the Holy Roman Empire around the end of the first millennium. They are known for their use of Yiddish language.

Boyar Class

: The Boyar class was a privileged social class of high-ranking nobility in Russia, second only to the ruling princes, from 10th through 17th century.

Castas Pyramid

: The Castas Pyramid was a hierarchical social structure established by the Spanish in their colonies, particularly in Latin America during the 16th to 18th centuries. It categorized people based on their racial and ethnic background, with Europeans at the top and indigenous peoples and Africans at the bottom.

Caste System

: A caste system is a social structure where people are divided into distinct levels based on their birth, occupation, or wealth, and these divisions often determine their social status, rights, and opportunities.

Changing Social Hierarchies

: This refers to the transformation of social structures over time, often due to economic, political, or cultural shifts. These changes can lead to different groups gaining or losing status and power.

Creole Class

: The Creole class refers to people born in the New World colonies but of pure European descent. They were typically wealthy landowners but ranked below peninsulares in the social hierarchy.

Enlightenment

: The Enlightenment was an intellectual and philosophical movement that dominated the world of ideas in Europe during the 17th to 19th century. It emphasized reason, analysis, and individualism rather than traditional lines of authority.

Gunpowder Empires

: The term "Gunpowder Empires" refers to several Islamic states during the late medieval and early modern periods (16th-18th centuries), including Ottoman Turkey, Safavid Iran, and Mughal India. These empires expanded their territories through successful military campaigns using gunpowder firearms technology.

Han Ethnicity

: The Han ethnicity is the largest ethnic group in China, making up about 92% of the population. They are known for their significant contributions to Chinese culture, language, history, and societal norms.

Janissaries

: The Janissaries were an elite military group in the Ottoman Empire, made up of Christian boys who were taken from their homes, converted to Islam, and trained to serve the sultan.

Jewish Diaspora

: The Jewish Diaspora refers to the dispersion of Jews beyond Israel. This has occurred several times in history, most notably after the Babylonian exile and after the Roman destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE.

Louis XIV

: Louis XIV, also known as the Sun King, was a monarch of the House of Bourbon who reigned as King of France from 1643 until his death in 1715. His reign is often associated with the concept of absolute monarchy and he's famous for saying "L'etat c'est moi" or "I am the state."

Manchus

: The Manchus are an ethnic minority in China originating from Northeast Asia. They established and ruled over the Qing Dynasty.

Merchant Class

: This is a socio-economic class comprising business people engaged in retail trade. They emerged as towns grew during the Middle Ages and became increasingly important during periods like the Renaissance and Industrial Revolution.

Mestizos

: Mestizos are people of mixed indigenous American and European ancestry.

Mughal Empire

: The Mughal Empire was an Islamic empire that ruled most of India from 1526 to 1857, known for its rich culture, architectural achievements like Taj Mahal, and administrative efficiency.

Mulattoes

: This term historically referred to individuals of mixed African and European descent during colonial times. They often occupied a social status between those of Europeans and full-blood Africans.

Ottoman Empire

: The Ottoman Empire was a state that controlled much of Southeastern Europe, Western Asia, and Northern Africa between the 14th and early 20th centuries. It was founded at the end of the 13th century in northwestern Anatolia by Osman I.

Peninsulares

: Peninsulares were Spanish-born individuals residing in the New World or the Spanish East Indies.

Qing Dynasty

: The Qing Dynasty, also known as the Manchu Dynasty, was the last imperial dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912. It was characterized by its powerful bureaucracy and emphasis on Confucian principles.

Queue Hairstyle

: The queue hairstyle was a specific hairdo worn by Chinese men during the Qing Dynasty. It involved shaving the front of the head and braiding the rest of the hair into a long ponytail.

Roxelana

: Roxelana was the chief consort and legal wife of Suleiman the Magnificent, Sultan of the Ottoman Empire. She had significant influence over state affairs and initiated various charitable works.

Scientific Revolution

: The Scientific Revolution was a series of events that marked the emergence of modern science during the early modern period when developments in mathematics, physics, astronomy, biology (including human anatomy) transformed views about society and nature.

Sephardic Jews

: Sephardic Jews are those who originally resided in Spain or Portugal before being expelled in the late 15th century. They have their unique traditions and dialect known as Ladino.

Serfdom

: This was a status of peasants under feudalism, specifically relating to manorialism. It was a condition of bondage or modified slavery which developed primarily during the High Middle Ages in Europe and lasted in some countries until the mid-19th century.

Sikhism

: Sikhism is a monotheistic religion founded in Punjab in the 15th century by Guru Nanak. It emphasizes faith, meditation on God's name, truthful living, and community service.


© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.


© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.