Question

What were the three estates of medieval European society and what was the primary duty of a member of each estate? How was this social organization challenged by the changing economy?

Answer 1

The three estates of medieval European society were the clergy (First Estate), nobility (Second Estate), and commoners (Third Estate). Their duties were to maintain spiritual health, defend the kingdom, and support the economy, respectively. The changing economy in the late Middle Ages, marked by the growth of towns and trade, challenged this hierarchical structure as the wealth and influence of the middle class, part of the Third Estate, started to grow.

Step-by-step explanation:

The

three estates

of medieval European society were the First Estate (clergy), the Second Estate (nobility), and the Third Estate (commoners). The primary duty of the

First Estate

was to maintain the spiritual health of society through prayer and church service. The

Second Estate

's main task was to defend the kingdom, while the

Third Estate

, comprising of farmers, artisans, merchants and laborers, was tasked with producing goods and providing services to support the economy. This social structure was intensely hierarchical, with the nobility and clergy having the most privilege and power. However, the changing economy of the late Middle Ages, particularly the growth of towns and trade, began to challenge this social structure. A growing middle class, part of the Third Estate, began amassing wealth and influence, challenging the power and privilege of the nobility and clergy.

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