The society with the longest history of a middle class

Factual Questions
1

Hi, I’m curious what society has had the longest history of a substantial middle class. I’m guessing the UK?

Thanks

2

I’d be more inclined to guess Scandinavia. They never had a real peasant class (bad climate for it) and the aristocracy never grew too powerful.

3

I think you have to define what you mean by “middle class” before the question can make sense.

(Yes, yes, I know everyone thinks they know what the term means, but it’s one of those slippery phrases that can mean a dozen different things,and more when you are talking historically.)

4

Right. Under some definitions all civilized societies have had substantial middle classes. Traders, merchants, artificers, shopkeepers, and others were needed to keep the population fed and clothed. Under some definitions a substantial middle class doesn’t exist until the 20th century. The farm population of the U.S. didn’t fall under 50% until 1880, and the majority of people in cities at that time were working class.

Unless you define both terms, no answer is possible.