Merchant Class
Definition
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.
Analogy
Imagine your school cafeteria where different food stalls represent different classes. The merchant class would be like those who own these stalls - they might not make the food themselves (that's more like the working class) but they're essential because they bring together products from various sources and sell them to hungry students!
Related terms
Bourgeoisie: In Marxist contexts, this term refers to the capitalist class who own most of society's wealth and means of production.
Guilds: Medieval associations formed by craftsmen or merchants with considerable power that set standards for their professions and protected their members' interests.
Trade Networks: Systems that move goods, people, and information from one place to another for trade. Examples include the Silk Road and Trans-Saharan Trade Route.
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