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How long was a typical workday for a member of the working class during the baroque period?

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Final answer:

During the Baroque period, the exact length of a working class individual's workday is not precisely known, but it likely began to extend and become more regulated as the era progressed. By the Industrial Revolution, which followed, workers faced long hours of up to 14 hours a day, six days a week, providing a rough estimate for late Baroque era workdays.

Step-by-step explanation:

The typical workday for a member of the working class during the Baroque period, which is generally defined as from c. 1585 to c. 1700/1730, would have varied based on location and industry. While detailed accounts specifically describing work hours during the Baroque period are limited, records from the Industrial Revolution, which followed, indicate that workers commonly toiled long hours -- often up to 14 hours per day, 6 days a week. This timeframe can be used as a rough estimate for the later years of the Baroque era as it transitioned into the Industrial Revolution.

Factories imposed strict schedules with designated break times and penalties for tardiness, which could include lost wages or even dismissal. The work was repetitive and could be both physically and mentally exhausting. By the 19th century in places like Russia and Japan, workdays could stretch up to 17 hours.

These conditions provide a contrast to earlier, pre-industrial times when farmers and artisans controlled their work pace and hours more freely. It is likely that as the Baroque period advanced and proto-industrialization began, workdays became more regulated and extended as part of the shift towards factory labor.

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