Estates System

The Estates System is a social hierarchy that originated in medieval Europe, dividing society into distinct classes or "estates" based on birth and social roles. Typically, it included the clergy (church officials), nobility (aristocrats and royalty), and commoners (peasants, merchants, and artisans). Each estate had specific privileges, duties, and social privileges, with limited movement between classes. This system shaped political power, land ownership, and societal structure, often reinforcing inequality. While formal estate systems are less common today, they laid the foundation for understanding class distinctions and social organization.