Medieval Times: The Rise of Middle Classes and the Modern Farmer in the 14th Century.

The Clergy: Those who Pray• The one class you were not born into

• Any one from the other two estates could join

• Not Taxed by the state

• By the 14th Century the Church owned 30% or more of the land

Noble Class: Those who fight

• Did not pay taxes

• Owed the King military service in exchange for money, land and titles

Peasant Class: Those who sow

• Often tied to the Land for life– Serfs did not own anything, little better than livestock– Could not marry without permission – Owed service to their Lord first before allowed to take

care of their share of the crops.– Had no legal rights, could not take their Lord to court

for redress.– Villeins (French peasants) were a little better in that

they were technically free, and had legal rights.

• This was the Class that was taxed the heaviest

• Majority have an Adequate Education

Similarities

• Economic Chaos

• Social unrest

• High prices

• Social and Religious Hysteria

What caused the changes?

• Climate change– The Little Ice Age

• Lowered the overall Temperature in Europe • Lasted up until the 19th Century

• The Black Death 1348-49– Estimated it killed 1/3 of the human population from India to

Iceland. The Cities were harder hit.– Oddly enough benefited the peasant farmers that survived– Due to Labor shortage and the other two Estates attempts to

hold on to power led to the Peasants Revolt of 1381 (England)

How did this effect us now?

• Ended Feudalism– Rise of the Tenant Farmer

• Led to the breaking of secular power the Church had for the past 1000 years

• Technical innovation– Windmills & Waterwheels came into use – Scientific study saw it roots–The University System began in the 14th

century–Rise of the Middle Class: Merchant and Craft

Guilds

Upper Middle Class

• Often Leaders in Their Communities

• Involved in Politics

• May have Investments in Businesses

Upper Class• 1-3% of U.S. Population

• The wealth of the top 1% in the United States equals the wealth of the lower 95%

• Leaders in a Profession

• Many times Wealth is Inherited

• Very Involved in Government

So Who Are We

• Mockingbird Valley, Kentucky Ranks 10th in Highest Income places in the U.S. $134,745 with a population of 190

• Belle Meade,Tennessee Ranks 27th $104,908 with a population of 2,943

• Glenview, Kentucky Ranks 74th $85,094 with a pop. Of 558

100 Poorest Counties in the U.S.

• Kentucky has 16 We are # 2 Overall• 18th Clay County, Kentucky $9,716• 21st McCreary County, Kentucky $9,896• 31st Wolfe County, Kentucky $10,321• 33rd Leslie County, Kentucky $10,429• 39th Martin County, Kentucky $10,650• 40th Knox County, Kentucky $10,660

• U.S. Average Per Capita Income is $21,587

100 Poorest Counties by Median Household Income

• Kentucky has 29 and Ranks #1• Ranks 3rd Owsley County, Kentucky

$15,805• Ranks 4th Clay County, Kentucky $16,271• Ranks 11th Martin County, Kentucky

$18,279

• Average Median Household Income In U.S. is $41,994