中世纪欧洲中产阶级的收入与消费水平初探

A Probe into the Income and Consumption Level of the Middle Class in Medieval Europe

中世纪欧洲社会结构经历了从两级向三级的转变。像所有传统社会一样,中世纪早期后半段(9-11世纪)属于两级(骑士和劳动者)的社会结构。12-15世纪欧洲社会结构从两级向三级转变,在乡绅和低收入者之间产生了以商人、专业人士、富裕工匠和富裕农民为主体的中产阶级。中世纪中晚期中产阶级的年收入大约在2英镑以上,但他们中已有许多人的收入超过5英镑这一小乡绅的最低收入标准,大商人和律师的收入超过骑士甚至贵族。中世纪中晚期城乡居民的饮食结构先后发生根本性变化,小麦面包、动物蛋白和麦酒构成食物消费的主体,因而中产阶级与低收入者的食品消费结构差别不大。然而,与低收入者相比,中产阶级却拥有更多的土地和住宅等不动产,以及生产资料和生活耐用品,因而他们的收入中非食物消费占有更大比例。

Medieval European social structure experienced the change from two estates to three estates. As in all traditional societies, the social structure of two estates （knight and labourer） existed in the latter half of early Middle Ages （9 -11 th centuries）. The social structure in 12 -15th centuries changed from two estates to three estates, and thus the middle class mainly including traders, professionals, rich artisans and rich peasants came into being between gentry and the low - income earners. Annual income of the middle class in the high and late Middle Ages was approximately more than 2 pounds, but many of them achieved annual in- come more than 5 pounds which was the lowest income standard of lesser gentry, and the income of big tradesmen and lawyers surpassed that of knights and even nobles. There were fundamental changes in food and drink structure of city and village inhabitants in the high and late Middle Ages. Wheat bread, animal protein and ale constituted the main stuff of food consumption, and thus the food consuming structure be- tween the middle class and the low income earners was almost the same. However, compared with the low - income earners, the middle class possessed more real estates as lands and houses, means of production and life durable goods, so non -food consumption occupied a higher proportion in their income.