SOCIETY IN THE MODERN AGEVersión en línea SOCIETY IN THE MODERN AGE por elvira lopez rivera 1 AUTHORITARIAN MONARCHIES 2 THE PRIVILEGED 3 THE NON-PRIVILEGED 4 WOMEN They reduced the powers of the nobility and the Church They formed permanent armies They increased taxes They created a diplomatic service They had special privileges The nobility and the clergy They did not pay taxes They had their own laws and courts of justice They held the most important government positions They owned most of the land peasants, merchants and craftspeople They paid taxes The bourgeoisie, who were merchants and bankers They were dependent on their parents or husbands Marriages were arranged by the parents Only rich women learnt to read and write. Their main occupation was to look after the house. They worked in the fields or as servants or saleswomen They looked after the house, the children and the elderly family members.