中世纪晚期英格兰乡绅阶层的形成

On the Formation of the Gentry in the Later Medieval England

乡绅阶层的形成和发展是中世纪晚期英格兰政治经济变革的重要体现。凭借王室政治改革和自身的经济特点,骑士阶层从危机中重生并转型成为乡绅。封建军役制度的衰落和土地非经济属性的剥离是骑士阶层转型的先决条件,而职能的多元化和对土地投资的重视则是骑士转型的关键因素。随着土地市场的活跃和工商业的繁荣,乡绅阶层不断吸收社会其他阶层的加入。乡绅的发展和壮大也推动了英格兰从中世纪向近代转型的进程。

The formation and development of the gentry were the reflection of the political and economic reform in later medieval England.Because of the Royal political reform and economic characteristic, the knight transformed to the gentry during the crisis time.The precondition of the transition was the decline of the Feudal military service and the stripping of the non-economic factors of the land.The key of the transition was the diversity of functions and the enthusiasm of the land investment.With the activity of the land market and the prosperity of the industry and commerce,the other stratum became gentry.The development and rising of the gentry promoted the course of the transition.