ståndesamhälle

Ståndssamhälle refers to a hierarchical social structure prevalent in many pre-modern European societies. This system divided people into distinct social groups, or "estates," based on birth, occupation, and legal status. The most common division was into three estates: the clergy (first estate), the nobility (second estate), and the commoners (third estate). The clergy held spiritual authority and often significant land ownership. The nobility enjoyed hereditary privileges, including exemption from many taxes and military service obligations, and held positions of power. The third estate comprised the vast majority of the population, including peasants, merchants, artisans, and laborers, who bore the brunt of taxation and lacked the privileges of the other estates.

Membership in an estate was largely determined by birth, making social mobility very limited. Each estate had its own rights, duties, and legal standing. This system profoundly influenced political representation, economic opportunities, and social interactions. For example, assemblies of estates (like parliaments or diets) were common, where representatives from each estate would convene to advise rulers or make decisions, though the third estate often had less influence despite its larger numbers. The rise of Enlightenment ideas and the French Revolution in the late 18th century critically challenged and ultimately led to the dismantling of the ståndssamhälle in many parts of Europe, paving the way for more egalitarian social and political systems.