Final answer:
The correct chronological order of the men's fashion, from oldest to most recent, is represented by a man with a sword (Renaissance or earlier), a cowboy (late 19th century), a man in suit and tie (19th century bourgeoisie), and men wearing flared pants (1960s-70s era), which corresponds to option d: 2, 1, 3, 4.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine the chronological order of the men's fashion described, we need to consider the historical context of each fashion style:
- The man described with a sword on his belt represents the fashion of the Renaissance or earlier periods, indicative of a time when swords were a common part of a gentleman's attire.
- The cowboy, identified by his cowboy hat, leather vest, and cowboy boots, represents a style that became prominent in the Great Plains around the late 19th century, particularly between 1865 and 1885.
- The man wearing a suit and tie represents the fashion of the bourgeoisie in the 19th century, which solidified into a 'uniform' of respectability and the emergence of the top hat as a class identity marker by the mid-1800s.
- Men wearing flared pants and button-down shirts suggest the fashion of the 1960s and 1970s, indicative of the disco era.
Based on this information, the oldest fashion is that of the gentleman with a sword, followed by the cowboy, then the suited bourgeoisie, and finally the 60s and 70s men in flared pants. Therefore, the correct chronological order is option d: 2, 1, 3, 4.