II.

History

The term was first applied to those inhabitants of medieval towns or boroughs, in France who occupied a position somewhere between the peasants and the landowning nobility; soon it was extended to the middle class of other nations. These people were usually merchants, tradespeople, and artisans, and later bankers and entrepreneurs. With the development of medieval cities as centres of commerce, the bourgeoisie began to emerge as an important socio-economic class. Frequently they banded together into corporations or guilds to protect their mutual interests from the more powerful landed gentry.

The end of the Middle Ages saw the rise of the nation-states of western Europe, with power concentrated in the hands of ruling monarchs. The bourgeoisie generally supported the throne in its struggle against the feudal order, thereby increasing their own influence in the emerging nations. As the feudal society was transformed into the early capitalist society of Europe, the bourgeoisie were the spearhead of progress in industry and science and of social change.

By the 17th century, this middle class was supporting principles of natural rights and constitutional government against the theories of divine right and privilege of the sovereign and the nobility. Thus, members of the bourgeoisie led the English revolution of the 17th century and the American and French revolutions of the late 18th century. These revolutions helped to establish political rights and personal liberty for all free citizens.