Spanish society around the time of Don Quijote was one that was separated by social classes. When the class system established in Spain, there were just three major groups present. The groups were the aristocracy, the hidalgos and the pecheros. The aristocracy and the hidalgos were considered members of the high society and did not have to pay taxes. In order to become a member of the aristocracy, a person had to prove three generations of pure Christian blood on both sides of his or her family. The hidalgo was considered to be a “privileged noble” (Thompson 25) who didn’t have to pay taxes or even have a job. The pecheros were considered to be the common tax payers, comparable to the modern day lower class. As time went on in Spanish society, a separation occurred in the hidalgo group. A new group called the hidalguia emerged between the hidalgos and the aristocracy. All the major members of society that were not considered aristocracy became members of the hidalguia. The hidalgos were now representative of the lowest form of nobility, but none the less were still higher than the pecheros (Thompson 25).
Work Cited:
Thompson, I. A. A. "The Vulgar Persuasion": Hidalgo and Pechero in Castile. History Today. v. 37 no. Jan (1987) p. 23-25.
Work Cited:
Thompson, I. A. A. "The Vulgar Persuasion": Hidalgo and Pechero in Castile. History Today. v. 37 no. Jan (1987) p. 23-25.