Gentry | social class (2024)

","url":"Introduction","wordCount":0,"sequence":1,"headerCarousel":null,"path":[]},"imarsData":{"INFINITE_SCROLL":"229401|1,390283|1,2082256|1,192800|1,355728|1,195364|1,75834|1,57075|1,651812|1,121483|1","HAS_REVERTED_TIMELINE":"false"},"npsAdditionalContents":{},"templateHandler":{"name":"INDEX"},"paginationInfo":{"previousPage":null,"nextPage":null,"totalPages":1},"uaTemplate":"INDEX","infiniteScrollList":[{"p":1,"t":229401},{"p":1,"t":390283},{"p":1,"t":2082256},{"p":1,"t":192800},{"p":1,"t":355728},{"p":1,"t":195364},{"p":1,"t":75834},{"p":1,"t":57075},{"p":1,"t":651812},{"p":1,"t":121483}],"topicLeftRail":{"topicInfo":{"id":229401,"title":"gentry","url":"https://www.britannica.com/topic/gentry","description":"History of Europe: Nobles and gentlemen: …the two terms nobleman and gentleman indicates the difficulty of definition. The terms were loosely used to mark the essential distinction between members of an upper class and the rest. In France, above knights and esquires without distinctive title, ranged barons, viscounts, counts, and marquises, until the summit was reached…","type":"TOPIC","titleText":"gentry","urlTitle":"gentry","metaDescription":"Other articles where gentry is discussed: history of Europe: Nobles and gentlemen: …the two terms nobleman and gentleman indicates the difficulty of definition. The terms were loosely used to mark the essential distinction between members of an upper class and the rest. In France, above knights and esquires without distinctive title, ranged barons, viscounts, counts, and marquises, until the summit was reached…","identifierHtml":"social class","identifierText":"social class","topicClass":"topic","topicKey":"gentry","articleContentType":"INDEX","ppTecType":"CONCEPT","gaTemplate":"INDEX","topicType":"INDEX","relativeUrl":"/topic/gentry","assemblyLinkPrefix":"/media/1/229401/"},"topicLink":{"title":"gentry","url":"https://www.britannica.com/topic/gentry"},"tocTitle":"Directory","tocEntry":"References","toc":null,"quoteLink":null,"indexLink":null,"factsLink":null,"mediaLink":null,"media":null,"studentLinks":null,"relatedQuizzes":null,"topQuestions":null,"readNext":null,"discover":[{"id":5316,"title":"Flags That Look Alike","url":"/list/flags-that-look-alike","description":"Figure out which flag to wave.","image":{"id":0,"url":"/94/187194-131-4117D246/Thumbnail-flags-quiz-Russia-Iceland-Norway-Slovenia.jpg","altText":"Thumbnail for flags that look alike quiz Russia, Slovenia, Iceland, Norway","credit":"Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.","width":null,"height":null,"fullUrl":"https://cdn.britannica.com/94/187194-131-4117D246/Thumbnail-flags-quiz-Russia-Iceland-Norway-Slovenia.jpg"},"type":"LIST","breadcrumb":{"homeLink":null,"items":[{"title":"List","url":"/list/browse"},{"title":"Geography & Travel","url":"/list/browse/Geography-Travel"}],"lastItemTitle":"Geography & Travel"},"superCategory":{"id":4,"title":"Geography & Travel","url":"Geography-Travel","description":"Explore geography and travel; geographic regions; historical places; people of the world; countries, states, provinces, cities, and towns; languages; deserts, islands, mountains, plateaus; lakes, oceans, seas, rivers; national parks, tourist attractions","keywords":"geographic regions; historical places; people of the world; countries, states, provinces, cities, and towns; languages; deserts, islands, mountains, plateaus; lakes, oceans, seas, rivers; national parks, tourist attractions ","classId":"GEOGRAPHY","sortOrder":5},"hashtags":["flags","countries","similar","look-alike"],"hashtagsString":"flags, countries, similar, look-alike","displayDate":[2024,1,26],"urlTitle":"flags-that-look-alike","featureSubType":"REGULAR","categories":[{"id":5000,"title":"Geography & Travel","url":"Geography-Travel","description":"Planet Earth contains some extraordinarily diverse environments, some of which are easily habitable and some not so much. In different areas of Earth, one might find sweltering deserts, dense tropical rainforests, or bone-chilling tundras. Each biome and habitat comes with its own selection of flora and fauna, and it may include physical features such as canyons, volcanoes, rivers, or caves. Human beings have built homes in many different environments, settling the area and organizing it into units such as cities, states, regions, and countries, each with its own points of interest. Shifting trends in human migration have resulted in a human geography that is profoundly different from that of centuries ago.","image":{"id":0,"url":"/17/2317-050-758D0E55/World-map-descriptions-Herodotus-Black-Sea.jpg","altText":"Geography & Travel","credit":null,"width":null,"height":null,"fullUrl":"https://cdn.britannica.com/17/2317-050-758D0E55/World-map-descriptions-Herodotus-Black-Sea.jpg"}},{"id":6000,"title":"World History","url":"World-History","description":"Does history really repeat itself, or can we learn from the mistakes of those who came before us? History provides a chronological, statistical, and cultural record of the events, people, and movements that have made an impact on humankind and the world at large throughout the ages.","image":{"id":0,"url":"/05/84505-050-8BB58BE6/cave-art-Ennedi-Plateau-Chad.jpg","altText":"World History","credit":null,"width":null,"height":null,"fullUrl":"https://cdn.britannica.com/05/84505-050-8BB58BE6/cave-art-Ennedi-Plateau-Chad.jpg"}},null],"mainCategory":{"id":5000,"title":"Geography & Travel","url":"Geography-Travel","description":"Planet Earth contains some extraordinarily diverse environments, some of which are easily habitable and some not so much. In different areas of Earth, one might find sweltering deserts, dense tropical rainforests, or bone-chilling tundras. Each biome and habitat comes with its own selection of flora and fauna, and it may include physical features such as canyons, volcanoes, rivers, or caves. Human beings have built homes in many different environments, settling the area and organizing it into units such as cities, states, regions, and countries, each with its own points of interest. Shifting trends in human migration have resulted in a human geography that is profoundly different from that of centuries ago.","image":{"id":0,"url":"/17/2317-050-758D0E55/World-map-descriptions-Herodotus-Black-Sea.jpg","altText":"Geography & Travel","credit":null,"width":null,"height":null,"fullUrl":"https://cdn.britannica.com/17/2317-050-758D0E55/World-map-descriptions-Herodotus-Black-Sea.jpg"}},"typeDisplayName":"List"},{"id":12710,"title":"Why Is the Indy 500 Held on Memorial Day Weekend?","url":"/story/why-is-the-indy-500-held-on-memorial-day-weekend","description":"Learn more about the history of the Indy 500.","image":{"id":0,"url":"/54/220254-131-468831D6/103rd-Indianapolis-500-at-Indianapolis-Motor-Speedway-May-26-2019.jpg","altText":"The field takes the turn one after the restart during the 103rd Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 26, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (auto racing, Indy 500)","credit":"Clive Rose/Getty Images","width":null,"height":null,"fullUrl":"https://cdn.britannica.com/54/220254-131-468831D6/103rd-Indianapolis-500-at-Indianapolis-Motor-Speedway-May-26-2019.jpg"},"type":"STORY","breadcrumb":{"homeLink":null,"items":[{"title":"Companion","url":"/stories/companion"},{"title":"Sports & Recreation","url":"/stories/companion/Sports-Recreation"}],"lastItemTitle":"Sports & Recreation"},"superCategory":{"id":2,"title":"Arts & Culture","url":"Arts-Culture","description":"Explore arts and culture; entertainment and pop culture, actors, comics, dance, film, food, music, theatre, tv; visual arts, architecture, fashion, painting, photography, sculpture; literature, fiction, nonfiction, plays, poetry, short story; sports and recreation","keywords":"entertainment and pop culture, actors, comics, dance, film, food, music, theatre, tv; visual arts, architecture, fashion, painting, photography, sculpture; literature, fiction, nonfiction, plays, poetry, short story; sports and recreation","classId":"ART","sortOrder":6},"hashtags":["companion","racing","auto racing","automobile racing","Indy 500","Indianapolis 500","Indianapolis Motor Speedway","Memorial Day","races","race","Britannica","Encyclopedia Britannica","Encyclopaedia Britannica"],"hashtagsString":"companion, racing, auto racing, automobile racing, Indy 500, Indianapolis 500, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Memorial Day, races, race, Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopaedia Britannica","displayDate":[2022,12,28],"urlTitle":"why-is-the-indy-500-held-on-memorial-day-weekend","featureSubType":"COMPANION","categories":[{"id":4000,"title":"Sports & Recreation","url":"Sports-Recreation","description":"Physical contests and recreational games have long played a part in human society. In both team and solo sports, the human body has been pushed to its limits in the name of improving athletic performance and in order to break record upon record. The ancient Olympic Games are an early example of the contests in which humans have engaged to showcase physical prowess. In modern times, sports and games have evolved into a lucrative and competitive industry, while other leisure activities, such as card and video games, can be competitive or just serve as a way to unwind or socialize.","image":{"id":0,"url":"/13/170713-131-8D6B0AF7.jpg","altText":"Sports & Recreation","credit":null,"width":null,"height":null,"fullUrl":"https://cdn.britannica.com/13/170713-131-8D6B0AF7.jpg"}},null,null],"mainCategory":{"id":4000,"title":"Sports & Recreation","url":"Sports-Recreation","description":"Physical contests and recreational games have long played a part in human society. In both team and solo sports, the human body has been pushed to its limits in the name of improving athletic performance and in order to break record upon record. The ancient Olympic Games are an early example of the contests in which humans have engaged to showcase physical prowess. In modern times, sports and games have evolved into a lucrative and competitive industry, while other leisure activities, such as card and video games, can be competitive or just serve as a way to unwind or socialize.","image":{"id":0,"url":"/13/170713-131-8D6B0AF7.jpg","altText":"Sports & Recreation","credit":null,"width":null,"height":null,"fullUrl":"https://cdn.britannica.com/13/170713-131-8D6B0AF7.jpg"}},"typeDisplayName":"Companion"},{"id":6383,"title":"11 Egyptian Gods and Goddesses","url":"/list/11-egyptian-gods-and-goddesses","description":"Worship like an Egyptian.","image":{"id":0,"url":"/52/196952-131-0665E4EE/Egyptians-hieroglyphics-carvings.jpg","altText":"An ancient egyptian hieroglyphic painted carving showing the falcon headed god Horus seated on a throne and holding a golden fly whisk. Before him are the Pharoah Seti and the goddess Isis. Interior wall of the temple to Osiris at Abydos, Egypt.","credit":"© Amanda Lewis/Dreamstime.com","width":null,"height":null,"fullUrl":"https://cdn.britannica.com/52/196952-131-0665E4EE/Egyptians-hieroglyphics-carvings.jpg"},"type":"LIST","breadcrumb":{"homeLink":null,"items":[{"title":"List","url":"/list/browse"},{"title":"Philosophy & Religion","url":"/list/browse/Philosophy-Religion"}],"lastItemTitle":"Philosophy & Religion"},"superCategory":{"id":5,"title":"History & Society","url":"History-Society","description":"Explore history and society; accidents and disasters; the age of revolutions; the ancient world; historic dynasties; global exploration; the middle ages; the modern world; prehistory; US history; world history; wars and battles; sociology; religion and philosophy; humanities; ethics; anthropology; festivals and holidays; human rights; human migration; international relations; politics, law, and government","keywords":"accidents and disasters; the age of revolutions; the ancient world; historic dynasties; global exploration; the middle ages; the modern world; prehistory; US history; world history; wars and battles; sociology; religion and philosophy; humanities; ethics; anthropology; festivals and holidays; human rights; human migration; international relations; politics, law, and government","classId":"HISTORY","sortOrder":1},"hashtags":["myth","mythology","religion","ancient Egypt","Egypt","Egyptian mythology","gods","goddesses"],"hashtagsString":"myth, mythology, religion, ancient Egypt, Egypt, Egyptian mythology, gods, goddesses","displayDate":[2017,10,27],"urlTitle":"11-egyptian-gods-and-goddesses","featureSubType":"REGULAR","categories":[{"id":7000,"title":"Philosophy & Religion","url":"Philosophy-Religion","description":"Humans have long pondered not only how we came to be but also why we came to be. The earliest Greek philosophers focused their attention upon the origin and nature of the physical world; later philosophers have theorized about the nature of knowledge, truth, good and evil, love, friendship, and much more. Philosophy involves a methodical assessment of any and all aspects of human existence and experience. The realms of philosophy and religion have sometimes intersected in conducting such inquiries as these. As with philosophy, the study of religion underscores how humankind has long speculated about its origins. The possibility of a higher being (or beings) to which livings things owe their existence has long captived human thought. Many religions also offer their own views on the nature of good and evil, and they may prescribe guidelines and judgment on different kinds of human behavior.","image":{"id":0,"url":"/95/180595-050-EDF2CA3A.jpg","altText":"Philosophy & Religion","credit":null,"width":null,"height":null,"fullUrl":"https://cdn.britannica.com/95/180595-050-EDF2CA3A.jpg"}},{"id":6000,"title":"World History","url":"World-History","description":"Does history really repeat itself, or can we learn from the mistakes of those who came before us? History provides a chronological, statistical, and cultural record of the events, people, and movements that have made an impact on humankind and the world at large throughout the ages.","image":{"id":0,"url":"/05/84505-050-8BB58BE6/cave-art-Ennedi-Plateau-Chad.jpg","altText":"World History","credit":null,"width":null,"height":null,"fullUrl":"https://cdn.britannica.com/05/84505-050-8BB58BE6/cave-art-Ennedi-Plateau-Chad.jpg"}},null],"mainCategory":{"id":7000,"title":"Philosophy & Religion","url":"Philosophy-Religion","description":"Humans have long pondered not only how we came to be but also why we came to be. The earliest Greek philosophers focused their attention upon the origin and nature of the physical world; later philosophers have theorized about the nature of knowledge, truth, good and evil, love, friendship, and much more. Philosophy involves a methodical assessment of any and all aspects of human existence and experience. The realms of philosophy and religion have sometimes intersected in conducting such inquiries as these. As with philosophy, the study of religion underscores how humankind has long speculated about its origins. The possibility of a higher being (or beings) to which livings things owe their existence has long captived human thought. Many religions also offer their own views on the nature of good and evil, and they may prescribe guidelines and judgment on different kinds of human behavior.","image":{"id":0,"url":"/95/180595-050-EDF2CA3A.jpg","altText":"Philosophy & Religion","credit":null,"width":null,"height":null,"fullUrl":"https://cdn.britannica.com/95/180595-050-EDF2CA3A.jpg"}},"typeDisplayName":"List"},{"id":6727,"title":"What's the Difference Between a Solstice and an Equinox?","url":"/story/whats-the-difference-between-a-solstice-and-an-equinox","description":"How the Sun relates to the seasons.","image":{"id":0,"url":"/90/202690-131-1D29B008/colorful-winter-sunset.jpg","altText":"Colorful winter sunset","credit":"© sborisov—iStock/Getty Images","width":null,"height":null,"fullUrl":"https://cdn.britannica.com/90/202690-131-1D29B008/colorful-winter-sunset.jpg"},"type":"STORY","breadcrumb":{"homeLink":null,"items":[{"title":"Demystified","url":"/stories/demystified"},{"title":"Science","url":"/stories/demystified/Science"}],"lastItemTitle":"Science"},"superCategory":{"id":6,"title":"Science & Tech","url":"Science-Tech","description":"Explore science and technology; astronomy; biology; chemistry; earth science; mathematics; physics; technology, agriculture, cars, computers, engineering, industry, inventions, communication","keywords":"astronomy; biology; chemistry; earth science; mathematics; physics; technology, agriculture, cars, computers, engineering, industry, inventions, communication","classId":"SCIENCE","sortOrder":2},"hashtags":["demystified","solstice","equinox","Sun","Earth","astronomy","calendar","celebrations"],"hashtagsString":"demystified, solstice, equinox, Sun, Earth, astronomy, calendar, celebrations","displayDate":[2018,12,21],"urlTitle":"whats-the-difference-between-a-solstice-and-an-equinox","featureSubType":"DEMYSTIFIED","categories":[{"id":1000,"title":"Science","url":"Science","description":"How can the sky be blue one day and stormy the next? Why do heavy objects tend to fall downwards when dropped? How are birds able to fly (and why can’t I do the same?)? Human beings have long been curious about the world in which we live, striving to identify connections among the phenomenons we witness and to understand how it all works. The field of science has developed over many centuries as a way of studying and understanding the world, beginning with the primitive stage of simply noting important regularities in nature and continuing through the rise of modern science. The modern-day sciences cover a vast range of fields, including biology, chemistry, meteorology, astronomy, physics, and much more.","image":{"id":0,"url":"/86/193986-050-7B2DBB6A/ball-and-stick-model-structure-atoms.jpg","altText":"Science","credit":null,"width":null,"height":null,"fullUrl":"https://cdn.britannica.com/86/193986-050-7B2DBB6A/ball-and-stick-model-structure-atoms.jpg"}},null,null],"mainCategory":{"id":1000,"title":"Science","url":"Science","description":"How can the sky be blue one day and stormy the next? Why do heavy objects tend to fall downwards when dropped? How are birds able to fly (and why can’t I do the same?)? Human beings have long been curious about the world in which we live, striving to identify connections among the phenomenons we witness and to understand how it all works. The field of science has developed over many centuries as a way of studying and understanding the world, beginning with the primitive stage of simply noting important regularities in nature and continuing through the rise of modern science. The modern-day sciences cover a vast range of fields, including biology, chemistry, meteorology, astronomy, physics, and much more.","image":{"id":0,"url":"/86/193986-050-7B2DBB6A/ball-and-stick-model-structure-atoms.jpg","altText":"Science","credit":null,"width":null,"height":null,"fullUrl":"https://cdn.britannica.com/86/193986-050-7B2DBB6A/ball-and-stick-model-structure-atoms.jpg"}},"typeDisplayName":"Demystified"},{"id":3864,"title":"12 Greek Gods and Goddesses","url":"/list/12-greek-gods-and-goddesses","description":"Crazy? These gods aren’t crazy. Nooo….","image":{"id":0,"url":"/23/176123-131-94DCF6F8/Aphrodite.jpg","altText":"Aphrodite. Greek mythology. Sculpture. Aphrodite is the Greek goddess of love and beauty.","credit":"AdstockRF","width":null,"height":null,"fullUrl":"https://cdn.britannica.com/23/176123-131-94DCF6F8/Aphrodite.jpg"},"type":"LIST","breadcrumb":{"homeLink":null,"items":[{"title":"List","url":"/list/browse"},{"title":"Philosophy & Religion","url":"/list/browse/Philosophy-Religion"}],"lastItemTitle":"Philosophy & Religion"},"superCategory":{"id":5,"title":"History & Society","url":"History-Society","description":"Explore history and society; accidents and disasters; the age of revolutions; the ancient world; historic dynasties; global exploration; the middle ages; the modern world; prehistory; US history; world history; wars and battles; sociology; religion and philosophy; humanities; ethics; anthropology; festivals and holidays; human rights; human migration; international relations; politics, law, and government","keywords":"accidents and disasters; the age of revolutions; the ancient world; historic dynasties; global exploration; the middle ages; the modern world; prehistory; US history; world history; wars and battles; sociology; religion and philosophy; humanities; ethics; anthropology; festivals and holidays; human rights; human migration; international relations; politics, law, and government","classId":"HISTORY","sortOrder":1},"hashtags":["encyclopedia","britannica","encyclopedia britannica","list","lists","greek","ancient","religion","gods","goddesses","mythology","culture","aprodite","athena","zeus","ares","hermes"],"hashtagsString":"encyclopedia, britannica, encyclopedia britannica, list, lists, greek, ancient, religion, gods, goddesses, mythology, culture, aprodite, athena, zeus, ares, hermes","displayDate":[2014,10,2],"urlTitle":"12-greek-gods-and-goddesses","featureSubType":"REGULAR","categories":[{"id":7000,"title":"Philosophy & Religion","url":"Philosophy-Religion","description":"Humans have long pondered not only how we came to be but also why we came to be. The earliest Greek philosophers focused their attention upon the origin and nature of the physical world; later philosophers have theorized about the nature of knowledge, truth, good and evil, love, friendship, and much more. Philosophy involves a methodical assessment of any and all aspects of human existence and experience. The realms of philosophy and religion have sometimes intersected in conducting such inquiries as these. As with philosophy, the study of religion underscores how humankind has long speculated about its origins. The possibility of a higher being (or beings) to which livings things owe their existence has long captived human thought. Many religions also offer their own views on the nature of good and evil, and they may prescribe guidelines and judgment on different kinds of human behavior.","image":{"id":0,"url":"/95/180595-050-EDF2CA3A.jpg","altText":"Philosophy & Religion","credit":null,"width":null,"height":null,"fullUrl":"https://cdn.britannica.com/95/180595-050-EDF2CA3A.jpg"}},{"id":11000,"title":"Visual Arts","url":"Visual-Arts","description":"These are the arts that meet the eye and evoke an emotion through an expression of skill and imagination. They include the most ancient forms, such as painting and drawing, and the arts that were born thanks to the development of technology, like sculpture, printmaking, photography, and installation art. Though beauty is in the eye of the beholder, different eras in art history have had their own principles to define beauty, from the richly ornamented taste of the Baroque to the simple utilitarian style of the Prairie School.","image":{"id":0,"url":"/45/24345-050-78FAA104.jpg","altText":"Visual Arts","credit":null,"width":null,"height":null,"fullUrl":"https://cdn.britannica.com/45/24345-050-78FAA104.jpg"}},null],"mainCategory":{"id":7000,"title":"Philosophy & Religion","url":"Philosophy-Religion","description":"Humans have long pondered not only how we came to be but also why we came to be. The earliest Greek philosophers focused their attention upon the origin and nature of the physical world; later philosophers have theorized about the nature of knowledge, truth, good and evil, love, friendship, and much more. Philosophy involves a methodical assessment of any and all aspects of human existence and experience. The realms of philosophy and religion have sometimes intersected in conducting such inquiries as these. As with philosophy, the study of religion underscores how humankind has long speculated about its origins. The possibility of a higher being (or beings) to which livings things owe their existence has long captived human thought. Many religions also offer their own views on the nature of good and evil, and they may prescribe guidelines and judgment on different kinds of human behavior.","image":{"id":0,"url":"/95/180595-050-EDF2CA3A.jpg","altText":"Philosophy & Religion","credit":null,"width":null,"height":null,"fullUrl":"https://cdn.britannica.com/95/180595-050-EDF2CA3A.jpg"}},"typeDisplayName":"List"},{"id":3774,"title":"7 Winter Solstice Celebrations From Around the World","url":"/list/7-winter-solstice-celebrations-from-around-the-world","description":"Make Midwinter merry by learning some new traditions.","image":{"id":0,"url":"/32/172532-131-F613580B/girl-wreath-Day-head-St-Lucia-family.jpg","altText":"Saint Lucia Day. Young girl wears Lucia crown (tinsel halo) with candles. Holds Saint Lucia Day currant laced saffron buns (lussekatter or Lucia's cats). Observed December 13 honor virgin martyr Santa Lucia (St. Lucy). Luciadagen, Christmas, Sweden","credit":"© Bodil Johansson/Thinkstock","width":null,"height":null,"fullUrl":"https://cdn.britannica.com/32/172532-131-F613580B/girl-wreath-Day-head-St-Lucia-family.jpg"},"type":"LIST","breadcrumb":{"homeLink":null,"items":[{"title":"List","url":"/list/browse"},{"title":"Lifestyles & Social Issues","url":"/list/browse/Lifestyles-Social-Issues"}],"lastItemTitle":"Lifestyles & Social Issues"},"superCategory":{"id":5,"title":"History & Society","url":"History-Society","description":"Explore history and society; accidents and disasters; the age of revolutions; the ancient world; historic dynasties; global exploration; the middle ages; the modern world; prehistory; US history; world history; wars and battles; sociology; religion and philosophy; humanities; ethics; anthropology; festivals and holidays; human rights; human migration; international relations; politics, law, and government","keywords":"accidents and disasters; the age of revolutions; the ancient world; historic dynasties; global exploration; the middle ages; the modern world; prehistory; US history; world history; wars and battles; sociology; religion and philosophy; humanities; ethics; anthropology; festivals and holidays; human rights; human migration; international relations; politics, law, and government","classId":"HISTORY","sortOrder":1},"hashtags":["encyclopedia","britannica","encyclopedia","list","lists","winter","solstice","midwinter","holidays","celebrations","saturnalia"],"hashtagsString":"encyclopedia, britannica, encyclopedia, list, lists, winter, solstice, midwinter, holidays, celebrations, saturnalia","displayDate":[2013,12,12],"urlTitle":"7-winter-solstice-celebrations-from-around-the-world","featureSubType":"REGULAR","categories":[{"id":8000,"title":"Lifestyles & Social Issues","url":"Lifestyles-Social-Issues","description":"It's easy enough to agree that human beings all around the world have certain basic requirements that must be fulfilled in order to ensure their individual and collective well-being. History has shown us, however, that it's not so easy to form societies or communities that fulfill these requirements for all members. The fight for human and civil rights has persisted for hundreds of years and remains alive today, both within the borders of nations and on an international scale. It has led to large-scale social movements and reforms concerning issues such as suffrage, slavery, women's rights, racism, environmentalism, gay rights, and much more.","image":{"id":0,"url":"/11/195611-131-4DFC1336/Belgian-pride-parade-People-streets-flags-Brussels-2017.jpg","altText":"Lifestyles & Social Issues","credit":null,"width":null,"height":null,"fullUrl":"https://cdn.britannica.com/11/195611-131-4DFC1336/Belgian-pride-parade-People-streets-flags-Brussels-2017.jpg"}},null,null],"mainCategory":{"id":8000,"title":"Lifestyles & Social Issues","url":"Lifestyles-Social-Issues","description":"It's easy enough to agree that human beings all around the world have certain basic requirements that must be fulfilled in order to ensure their individual and collective well-being. History has shown us, however, that it's not so easy to form societies or communities that fulfill these requirements for all members. The fight for human and civil rights has persisted for hundreds of years and remains alive today, both within the borders of nations and on an international scale. It has led to large-scale social movements and reforms concerning issues such as suffrage, slavery, women's rights, racism, environmentalism, gay rights, and much more.","image":{"id":0,"url":"/11/195611-131-4DFC1336/Belgian-pride-parade-People-streets-flags-Brussels-2017.jpg","altText":"Lifestyles & Social Issues","credit":null,"width":null,"height":null,"fullUrl":"https://cdn.britannica.com/11/195611-131-4DFC1336/Belgian-pride-parade-People-streets-flags-Brussels-2017.jpg"}},"typeDisplayName":"List"},{"id":6317,"title":"7 Dangerous Plants You Should Never Touch","url":"/story/7-plants-you-cant-even-touch","description":"Don’t even think about it…","image":{"id":0,"url":"/21/196021-131-B8D7D91A/Stinging-nettle.jpg","altText":"Urtica dioica, often called common nettle or stinging nettle","credit":"© nada54/Shutterstock.com","width":null,"height":null,"fullUrl":"https://cdn.britannica.com/21/196021-131-B8D7D91A/Stinging-nettle.jpg"},"type":"STORY","breadcrumb":{"homeLink":null,"items":[{"title":"#WTFact","url":"/stories/wtfact"},{"title":"Science","url":"/stories/wtfact/Science"}],"lastItemTitle":"Science"},"superCategory":{"id":6,"title":"Science & Tech","url":"Science-Tech","description":"Explore science and technology; astronomy; biology; chemistry; earth science; mathematics; physics; technology, agriculture, cars, computers, engineering, industry, inventions, communication","keywords":"astronomy; biology; chemistry; earth science; mathematics; physics; technology, agriculture, cars, computers, engineering, industry, inventions, communication","classId":"SCIENCE","sortOrder":2},"hashtags":["plants","botany","dermatitis","allergies","danger","dangerous","poison ivy","stinging nettle","pain bush"],"hashtagsString":"plants, botany, dermatitis, allergies, danger, dangerous, poison ivy, stinging nettle, pain bush","displayDate":[2017,8,3],"urlTitle":"7-plants-you-cant-even-touch","featureSubType":"WTFACT","categories":[{"id":1000,"title":"Science","url":"Science","description":"How can the sky be blue one day and stormy the next? Why do heavy objects tend to fall downwards when dropped? How are birds able to fly (and why can’t I do the same?)? Human beings have long been curious about the world in which we live, striving to identify connections among the phenomenons we witness and to understand how it all works. The field of science has developed over many centuries as a way of studying and understanding the world, beginning with the primitive stage of simply noting important regularities in nature and continuing through the rise of modern science. The modern-day sciences cover a vast range of fields, including biology, chemistry, meteorology, astronomy, physics, and much more.","image":{"id":0,"url":"/86/193986-050-7B2DBB6A/ball-and-stick-model-structure-atoms.jpg","altText":"Science","credit":null,"width":null,"height":null,"fullUrl":"https://cdn.britannica.com/86/193986-050-7B2DBB6A/ball-and-stick-model-structure-atoms.jpg"}},{"id":3000,"title":"Health & Medicine","url":"Health-Medicine","description":"The study of the human mind and body, how these function, and how they interact—not only with each other but also with their environment—has been of utmost importance in ensuring human well-being. Research on potential treatments and preventive medicine has expanded greatly with the development of modern medicine, and a network of disciplines, including such fields as genetics, psychology, and nutrition, aims to facilitate the betterment of our health.","image":{"id":0,"url":"/07/192107-050-CE043374/anatomy-charts-human-body-muscle-systems-skeletal.jpg","altText":"Health & Medicine","credit":null,"width":null,"height":null,"fullUrl":"https://cdn.britannica.com/07/192107-050-CE043374/anatomy-charts-human-body-muscle-systems-skeletal.jpg"}},null],"mainCategory":{"id":1000,"title":"Science","url":"Science","description":"How can the sky be blue one day and stormy the next? Why do heavy objects tend to fall downwards when dropped? How are birds able to fly (and why can’t I do the same?)? Human beings have long been curious about the world in which we live, striving to identify connections among the phenomenons we witness and to understand how it all works. The field of science has developed over many centuries as a way of studying and understanding the world, beginning with the primitive stage of simply noting important regularities in nature and continuing through the rise of modern science. The modern-day sciences cover a vast range of fields, including biology, chemistry, meteorology, astronomy, physics, and much more.","image":{"id":0,"url":"/86/193986-050-7B2DBB6A/ball-and-stick-model-structure-atoms.jpg","altText":"Science","credit":null,"width":null,"height":null,"fullUrl":"https://cdn.britannica.com/86/193986-050-7B2DBB6A/ball-and-stick-model-structure-atoms.jpg"}},"typeDisplayName":"#WTFact"}]},"byline":null,"citationInfo":null,"websites":null,"freeTopicReason":"TOPIC_IS_INDEX_PAGE","articleSchemaMarkup":{"keywords":"gentry","wordcount":0,"url":"https://www.britannica.com/topic/gentry","description":"Other articles where gentry is discussed: history of Europe: Nobles and gentlemen: …the two terms nobleman and gentleman indicates the difficulty of definition. The terms were loosely used to mark the essential distinction between members of an upper class and the rest. In France, above knights and esquires without distinctive title, ranged barons, viscounts, counts, and marquises, until the summit was reached…","publisher":{"name":"Encyclopedia Britannica","@type":"Organization","logo":{"url":"https://corporate.britannica.com/wp-content/themes/eb-corporate/_img/logo.png","@type":"ImageObject"}},"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"article"},"studentArticle":false,"showHeader":true,"initialLoad":true,"comingFromSameArticle":false}