Keeping up appearances. Ways of representing the local powers in the rural world of Cordoba in modern times

Abstract

With this essay we try to go in depth into the knowledge of the lifestyle of the ruling classes in the rural communities from Cordoba in the Modern period. For this we analyze the ways of distinction of these groups in the various scenes where most of their daily life passed. We will realize how privileged classes lived surrounded by all kinds of luxuries and comforts, which allowed them to have a great social recognition. This lifestyle entailed a considerable economic expense that not all the families could face up; despite this, many of these families went on doing it, so far as to get themselves heavily into debt just to be recognized as one of the group members.