Concetti Chiave
- The middle class began to rise in significance from the sixteenth century, merging with the aristocracy post-1688.
- Unlike France, England saw no violent class conflict; rather, a gradual integration occurred.
- Wealthy tradesmen and manufacturers purchased estates and parliamentary seats, aligning with the aristocracy.
- Interests of the middle class and aristocracy converged, collaborating in commerce, agriculture, and industry.
- Defoe's "Robinson Crusoe" exemplifies the middle class worldview and values of the era.
The middle class had been increasing in importance since the sixteenth century and after the glorious revolution of 1688, it gradually merged with the aristocracy. There was no violent conflict between the two classes as a century later in France with the revolution. In England rich tradesmen and manifacturers bought estates and with them seats in the parliament, while her sons and daughters married into the aristocracy. This meant that gradually the interests of both the classes became the same: they Joined forces, in commercial, agriculture or industrial ventures.
We can find a example of this vision of the world in Robinson crusoe by Defoe: it's the perfect novel that shows the uses and the conception of world for the new Middle Class (Robinson is from middle class).
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