Catalonia Agriculture, Urban Society & Mass Culture in Spain

Catalonia: Agriculture, Tenancy and Rural Structure

In Catalonia, the majority of farmers were small- or medium-size owners, although there were a large number of tenants (arrendataris / darrendataris). Catalan tenants, unlike those in the rest of Spain, often had long-term contracts, which helped modernize their fields.

Urban Social Structure and Social Classes

Like the countryside, the city was also a well-structured society, divided into classes and even by neighborhoods. At the top was the bourgeoisie. In Catalonia and the Basque Country the industrial bourgeoisie was enriched by industry and possessed large sums of money, making them the highest urban class. There was also a financial bourgeoisie (banking-related). Frequent marriages occurred between the bourgeoisie and the old aristocracy.

Lower Middle Class and White-Collar Workers

Another important group was the lower middle class, which was abundant in other European countries, but in Spain this group was not as large. These people were mainly civil servants, clerks and white-collar professionals (doctors, lawyers, teachers, etc.). This group grew in size as Spain developed. Although they did not have the same wealth as the bourgeoisie, they often tried to imitate them.

The Proletariat and Industrial Workers

The proletariat—the workers—were the largest urban group. Industrial workers increased greatly, especially in Catalonia (and the Basque Country and Madrid). Their living conditions were somewhat better than those in the countryside, but poverty remained widespread. They worked very long hours (often a minimum of 16 hours) under difficult conditions (no ventilation, lack of safety measures). Child labor was common; as a result, workers organized and marched to demand improvements in working conditions.

New Social and Urban Culture, Leisure and Media

Spanish society was becoming a mass society, and urban life led to changes in social values and forms of leisure. Modes of transport evolved rapidly (railways, the underground), and mass media expanded—most notably the radio (e.g., Radio Barcelona, 1924).

• By the early twentieth century literacy rates rose significantly (around 70% in some areas), and newspapers began to function as mass media.
• Reading became a group activity and new leisure clubs appeared (walking groups, sporting clubs).
• Football became a mass sport, and seaside recreation also grew in popularity.
• Cinema began to spread as a popular form of entertainment.

Women and Legal Discrimination

The law discriminated against women. In the early twentieth century, women began to participate more in political, social, and professional life. Until then, although many women had worked outside the home, they were largely ignored as a collective force and suffered significant legal disadvantages compared to men.

Note: This text preserves the historical topics and details while correcting spelling, grammar, and capitalization for clarity.