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SNOB
Posted by Lewis on August 07, 2003
In Reply to: SNOB posted by Adam Beacher on August 07, 2003
: I did not see a definition for "SNOB" in your database.
: My understanding is that the term originated when the middle class began to emerge after the Dark Ages in Europe.
: The Merchants/middle class (in Venice, Florence, Portugal ETC) began to rise in status with the growth in trade and commerce when the dark ages were ending. They had money when they did not have it in the past.
: Merchants began to send their children to the Universities that were normally reserved for the children of the Nobility. To differentiate, the school's in Italy required the children to register as "Noble" or "Si Noble" (Without nobility) or "SNOB."
I'm not a scholar of mediaeval Italian, but having read a bit of the life of painters, Machiavelli and Leonardo da Vinci - I don't recall it being mentioned that they registered "Nobile" or "Si-Nobile" - indeed the nobles generally hired the likes of Niccolo and Leonardo to be private tutors to their children.
"Public schools" were established as opposed to "private tutors". I know that some cultures looked down on those "in trade" (such as the UK), but for the great trading city states like Genoa or Venice, one would not expect the rich to care whether the money was "old money" or "new money".
I like your idea though - s'nob - without class!
Any proof of that - such as C16th school registers with such denotions?
