European Economy, Society, and Culture by 1750

By 1750, the elite and popular cultures in western Europe were drawing apart. Up to that time, it had seemed as if they were getting closer. The coming forth of the middle class had signified that. By 1750, however, things began to change. The new system of capitalism had much to do with these changes. Hence, in social, cultural, and economic ways, the elite and popular cultures in western Europe, were drawing apart by 1750.

Certain social elements that signify the expanding gap between the elite and the masses (the popular culture), are language, town life, and leisure time. The language that the elite spoke, was more of a national sort. An elite man from one side of England could have clearly communicated with an elite man from the other side of England. The masses, however, took a different approach. They spoke the local language, which was agreeably different from one side of the country to the other. In France, for example, the masses in the southern region, in Languedoc had a different word for “yes,” than the masses in the northern part of France. While the north said “oui,” the masses in the afore mentioned region, said “doc.” This demonstrates how different the same language could be in different local areas. The element of language, therefore, clearly separated the masses from the elite. Town life was another element which separated them. The 18th century was not the era of big cities. London, for example, was the largest eastern European city, with one million people. In these small cities, there was one clear and obvious fact that drew the two parties apart. An astounding 10% of the British and French populations, lived their lives as beggars in these cities. The elite, hence, looked down upon these masses of beggars, and in a sense the beggars looked up to them, for money. This further drew the parties apart. Leisure time is yet another social element that drew the elite and the masses apart. In their leisure time, the elite, while exercising great courtly manners, spent their time playing polo, going to operas, attending ballroom dances, and even playing a little golf. The masses, on the other hand, in their leisure time, enjoyed themselves at carnivals and festivals, which some might argue were just excuses for drinking. Often in these festival, one day a year, the parties had role-reversals. Here, the peasants acted as nobles, expressing the nobles’ worst qualities, while the nobles acted as peasants, doing the same. They had grown so far apart, they considered themselves completely different types of people, fitted for laughing at. Hence, this demonstrates the social elements that drew the elite and the masses apart.