ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Burgher (social class)

Okay kiddo, so a long long time ago in Europe, there were different groups of people. One of these groups was called "burghers". Burghers were people who lived in towns and cities and were mostly merchants or skilled tradespeople like blacksmiths or bakers.

Think of it like this - you know how some people live in big houses with lots of land and animals, and others live in smaller houses in towns and cities? Well, burghers were like the people who lived in the towns and cities.

But being a burgher wasn't just about where you lived - it was also a social class. This means that burghers had a certain level of education, wealth and power that made them different from other groups. They were seen as important members of society because they contributed to the economy by selling goods and services.

So, being a burgher was kind of like being part of a special club. They had their own laws and rules that they followed, and they could even elect their own leaders to represent them in the government.

But, it's important to remember that not everyone could be a burgher. You had to meet certain qualifications and be accepted into the group. So, it was kind of like an exclusive club!

Overall, burghers were an important part of European society, and they helped to shape the way we live today by contributing to the economy and creating towns and cities as we know them.