The word estate is related to the notion of social division as well as that of social classes. The estate could be described as a set of individuals who share certain characteristics (more than anything, their relationship with production systems and the economic activities they carry out) and who differ, therefore, from the rest of the groups that make up a group. society.
When speaking of estates, it is important to point out that they exist from the very moment that the human being organized in society and established different activities or tasks for each individual. In this sense, the division by social classes or groups has always been present in the history of the human being, despite the fact that in some historical moments its brand was stronger than in others.
The estates that make up a society are organized in a natural way as a result of the establishment of certain hierarchical relationships and power to each other. In this sense, the estates assume the existence of more 'important' people than others who are dedicated to tasks that are equally more important or traditionally considered more relevant, usually those that have to do with government, administration, religion, etc.
The social classes are structured in a pyramidal form, occupying the top those that are composed of fewer members and that possess greater power. As the social classes get closer to the pyramidal base, the greater their number of members and the less their importance or power when determining issues relevant to social functioning. In general, those who have been at the base of any society have always been those who performed productive tasks, such as slaves, peasants or workers.
Although at present the notion of clearly divided estates no longer exists so strongly, it is inevitable to recognize social differences between those social groups that have better living conditions (as a result of their material assets, their professional training, etc.) and those who do not have all the basic rights assured and who can hardly climb the social pyramid to the higher echelons.
