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Change in composition and definition of urban elites during a period of transformation. The case of Antwerp, 1750-1850
| The relative importance of urban elite status will be examined by focusing on the change in the composition and definition of urban elites in Antwerp during a period of rapid transformation and change. It must be assumed that he transformation from a small textile centre to an important port and business centre (thanks to the reopening of the river Scheldt to all maritime transport in 1795) not only affected the composition of the urban elite, but also the ways by which their status in the urban society was defined. From a city which counted proportionally a very important group of noblemen, rich rentiers and retired businessmen with a title of nobility, the city evolved to an attractive place for people working in the port and trade-related activities. The question arose if these structural changes in economic importance and orientation had a clear impact on which groups were considered to constitute the urban elite. Furthermore, we want to figure out if there were important differences in their urban elite status by looking not at their economic importance, but at their social, cultural and political dominance in the urban society. By focusing on the social, cultural and political activity and networks of noblemen and businesspeople, we hope to solve the question which switches occurred at a certain point of time and which groups stand the pace.
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