What roles did Aristocrats peasants and townspeople play in medieval European civilization and how did their lifestyles differ?

Answer 1

Aristocrats were the ruling class and the landowners. They owned large landed estates and exploited the peasants by imposing on them tributes in labour (set amounts of time they had to work in the fields of the landed estates of the lord) and in kind (usually livestock) and charging rent for their plots of land (sharecropping where the peasant gave the lord a part of the harvest, or cash). They also wielded great political power and often rebelled against kings until the latter developed the capacity to hold them in check. Even after that, kings relied on loyal aristocrats for their power and government.

The peasants were farmers who tilled the land of small family farms. Their role was to produce food and other agricultural goods and (given the described economic system) to be exploited.

Townspeople were artisans, traders, merchant, bankers, professionals, and officials. The artisans produced the manufacturers needed by the urban population. The traders were shopkeepers and/or small scale importers of local agricultural goods. Their role was to supply and sell goods to the townspeople. The merchants handled large quantities long-distance trade goods which came form other regions, other countries and other continents. They role was to sell these godds and to make themselves rich. Professionals is a term which is often used to indicate doctors, lawyers, teachers, scholars and the like. Their role was to provide specialised professional services. Officials were people who worked for the town councils of were representatives of the king's government. Their role was administrative.