Social Structures Vocabulary

A system of social organization in which some people enjoy a higher social rank than others.

• Meritocracy
• Anarchy
• Social

  Hierarchy

• Equality

The movement of people, families, or groups through a system of social hierarchy.

• social stagnation
• cultural immobility
• economic regression
• social mobility

A religious leader who is given permission to perform the holy rituals of a religion and may act as a middle man between humans and gods.

• Priest
• Cardinal
• Monk
• Bishop

Any officeholder, employee or other official of a part of Government.

• State official
• Government worker
• Government official
• Public servant

A person involved in trade

• trader
• seller
• merchant
• buyer

A worker in a skilled trade, especially one that involves making things by hand.

• artisan
• laborer
• creator
• craftsman

A poor farmer of low rank who owns or rents a small piece of land for farming.

• Monarch
• Peasant
• Noble
• Serf

A member of a wealthy, land-owning family that made up the leadership of ancient Rome.

• Senator
• Patrician
• Emperor
• Nobleman

Free Roman citizens who were not patricians; “commoners” including farmers, military members, tradesmen and laborers.

• Plebeians
• Senators
• Nobles
• Emperors

A sovereign ruler of great power and rank, especially one ruling an empire.

• King
• Emperor
• Dictator
• President