Spanish society around the time of Don Quijote was one that was separated by social classes. These classes consisted of the aristocracy, the Grandes, the Hidalgo’s, the Commoners and at the very bottom, the Pecheros. The top three groups did not have jobs and never had to their entire lives. Because of their high status in Spanish society, they never had to pay taxes to their country. At this time in history, it was considered very low to have to work and pay taxes. Once one became apart of one of these social classes, there was no way of getting out. The idea of social mobility that is so highly emphasized in American society didn’t exist. There was no way of obtaining wealth or higher social status in Spain. Your status was merely just luck of a draw. You became a member of the class that your parents were apart of. The American dream simply just didn’t exist in this rough time period. Even though you were part of the high class society, didn’t mean that you were very wealthy and powerful (Johnson 9). There are stories of cities that simply disappeared from existence due to the presence of too many nobles without jobs. The men would just sit around all day not working until the city had no money. In my opinion, the most interesting social classes that existed in this historical period were the Hidalgo’s. Hidalgos, as I said above, were considered the lowest members of the high society in Spain. They were simply free loaders who didn’t contribute anything economically. They simply were allowed to live their lives with relatively any interference for the aristocracy. Most of the members were not wealthy and didn’t own much property.
The title ‘Hidalgo,’ sometimes seen as ‘fidalgus’ first appeared in Spain in the 12th century as a contraction of the phrase ‘hijo de algo’ or ‘son of something’ (Encyclopædia Britannica, 2007). Although the term Hidalgo represented all of the members of the nobility, it was especially meant for the lowest rank of the nobility (Encyclopædia Britannica, 2007). It was a title given either by the ‘crown’ or inherited, as in the case of Don Quijote. Although hidalgos were not required to pay taxes, it was entirely possible for someone with that title, and their family, to become impoverished due to a lack of income (Columbia Encyclopedia; 2007). Hidalgos did not do any work of their own, instead they relied on rent paid by tenants of their land (Encyclopædia Britannica, 2007; Columbia Encyclopedia; 2007). Under King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella in the late 15th century, the title came to be considered as representing someone of Christian descent, rather than Muslim, Jewish, or a ‘converso’ (Encyclopædia Britannica, 2007). Both Don Quijote and Cervantes held the title of hidalgo.
Wiki Entry 1
2/2/07
Spanish society around the time of Don Quijote was one that was separated by social classes. These classes consisted of the aristocracy, the Grandes, the Hidalgo’s, the Commoners and at the very bottom, the Pecheros. The top three groups did not have jobs and never had to their entire lives. Because of their high status in Spanish society, they never had to pay taxes to their country. At this time in history, it was considered very low to have to work and pay taxes. Once one became apart of one of these social classes, there was no way of getting out. The idea of social mobility that is so highly emphasized in American society didn’t exist. There was no way of obtaining wealth or higher social status in Spain. Your status was merely just luck of a draw. You became a member of the class that your parents were apart of. The American dream simply just didn’t exist in this rough time period. Even though you were part of the high class society, didn’t mean that you were very wealthy and powerful (Johnson 9). There are stories of cities that simply disappeared from existence due to the presence of too many nobles without jobs. The men would just sit around all day not working until the city had no money. In my opinion, the most interesting social classes that existed in this historical period were the Hidalgo’s. Hidalgos, as I said above, were considered the lowest members of the high society in Spain. They were simply free loaders who didn’t contribute anything economically. They simply were allowed to live their lives with relatively any interference for the aristocracy. Most of the members were not wealthy and didn’t own much property.
The title ‘Hidalgo,’ sometimes seen as ‘fidalgus’ first appeared in Spain in the 12th century as a contraction of the phrase ‘hijo de algo’ or ‘son of something’ (Encyclopædia Britannica, 2007). Although the term Hidalgo represented all of the members of the nobility, it was especially meant for the lowest rank of the nobility (Encyclopædia Britannica, 2007). It was a title given either by the ‘crown’ or inherited, as in the case of Don Quijote. Although hidalgos were not required to pay taxes, it was entirely possible for someone with that title, and their family, to become impoverished due to a lack of income (Columbia Encyclopedia; 2007). Hidalgos did not do any work of their own, instead they relied on rent paid by tenants of their land (Encyclopædia Britannica, 2007; Columbia Encyclopedia; 2007). Under King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella in the late 15th century, the title came to be considered as representing someone of Christian descent, rather than Muslim, Jewish, or a ‘converso’ (Encyclopædia Britannica, 2007). Both Don Quijote and Cervantes held the title of hidalgo.
Works Cited:
“hidalgo, in Spanish nobility.” Columbia Encyclopedia. 2007. Columbia Encyclopedia Online. 6 Feb 2007
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“hidalgo." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2007. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 6 Feb. 2007 <http://search.eb.com/eb/article-9040368>.