[Alberta's Child]

Only in the usa during the 19th and 20th century, did the middle class win that battle.

I'll take this one step further . . . the USA in the 19th and 20th centuries is one of the few cases in human history where something called "the middle class" even existed at all.

[jpsb]

Most societies had a small middle class. It was mainly the professionals that the wealthy needed. Doctors, lawyers, priests, etc, and merchants in societies that allow merchants.However these (merchants) were purged from time to time should they gain to much wealth.