Final answer:
A non-producing elite in a farming population could set itself above the working classes, which included farmers, laborers, artisans, and merchants. These classes were essential for production and societal maintenance, while elites could focus on trade and policy-making.
Step-by-step explanation:
In historical contexts, especially in agrarian societies, the question points to a situation in which a healthy, non-producing elite could set itself above the working classes, which comprised small farmers, laborers, artisans, and merchants. These working classes were responsible for the production of food and goods necessary for society's sustenance and functioning. Agriculture led to the development of surpluses, which, in turn, allowed some individuals to acquire wealth and status, thus not needing to participate directly in production. Instead, these elites could engage in activities such as trade or crafting policies that often benefited their own interests. As societies evolved, with the advent of the Industrial Revolution and beyond, these class divisions would persist and transform, affecting social dynamics and creating new cultural developments tied to the newly created wealth and its distribution.