中世纪晚期英格兰市民资格的变革与社会流动

The Transformation of Burgess Qualifications and the Social Mobility in Late Medieval England

市民是中世纪社会的特殊群体,只有具备相应资格、达到相关标准才能成为市民。通过市民注册登记簿可知,在中世纪晚期的英格兰,市民资格主要有三:即继承而来的身份资质、服役7年的学徒资质与购买而来的货币资质。相较于十一二世纪单一化的市民资格,中世纪晚期的英格兰市民资格明显扩大。市民资格的变革,使中世纪晚期的英格兰城市变得更为开放,推动了英格兰的社会流动。这一变革对英格兰社会在中世纪晚期的结构转型乃至从封建主义向资本主义的过渡都有重要的历史意义。

Burgesses(or citizens)formed a privileged group in the medieval society.Only of those who held corresponding qualifications and met relevant standards could be admitted becoming a burgess.According to freemen's rolls,three types of qualifications to be a burgess can be found in late medieval England(from the 13th century to the 15th century),including the patrimony,7-year apprenticeship and redemption.Compared with the unitary burgess qualification existing between the 11th and 12th centuries,these later qualifications had more diversities.The changing burgess qualification had triggered the opening of the urban society,as well as the positive social mobility.Besides,this change played a significant role in the social structure transformation and the transition from feudalism to capitalism in late medieval England.