1) A landed aristocracy was the dominant class in Europe both socially and politically.
2) The members of this class spoke French and owned estates in the rural areas and also town-houses.
3) This powerful aristocracy was, however, a small number of people in the group whereas the majority of the population were peasants.
4) To the west, the land was cultivated by tenants and small owners, while in Eastern and Central Europe the land was cultivated by serfs.
5) With the dawn of industrialisation, new social groups emerged which are:
(i) working-class population
(ii) Middle classes made up of industrialists, businessmen, professionals.