The Renaissance

• Women: Women played a significant role in the Renaissance, despite the fact that they were not allowed to hold formal positions of power. They were patrons of the arts, writers, artists, and scholars. For example, Christine de Pizan was a renowned writer and poet who wrote about the importance of education for women.
• Commoners: Commoners also played a role in the Renaissance, even though they were not part of the ruling class. They were often the audience for Renaissance art and literature, and they sometimes participated in popular revolts. For example, the Ciompi Revolt of 1378 was a popular revolt in Florence that was led by wool workers.
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The Industrial Revolution

• Workers: Workers were the driving force behind the Industrial Revolution. They toiled in factories for long hours and under dangerous conditions. They also organized unions to fight for better working conditions and wages. For example, the Chartist movement was a working-class movement in Britain that demanded universal suffrage and other reforms.
• Women: Women also played a significant role in the Industrial Revolution, although they were often paid less than men and were segregated into certain jobs. They worked in factories, sweatshops, and mines. They also organized unions and fought for their rights. For example, the Matchgirls Strike of 1888 was a strike by women match factory workers in London.
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The relative strength or weakness of informal power depends on a number of factors, including the size and organization of the group, the resources they have access to, and the willingness of those in power to listen to their demands.

In conclusion, people without formal institutional power have played a significant role in shaping events in European history. Their informal power can be very strong, but it is also limited. The relative strength or weakness of their power depends on a number of factors.

Here are some additional thoughts on the informal power of people without formal institutional power:

• The power of numbers: People without formal power can often be a force to be reckoned with when they come together in large numbers. This was evident in the Chartist movement and the Matchgirls Strike, as well as in many other historical events.
• The power of the voice: People without formal power can also use their voices to raise awareness of their issues and to challenge the status quo. This was evident in the writing of Christine de Pizan and in the speeches of labor leaders such as Robert Owen.
• The power of creativity: People without formal power can also use their creativity to express their dissent and to imagine a better future. This was evident in the art and literature of the Renaissance and in the music and poetry of the Industrial Revolution.

The informal power of people without formal institutional power is often underestimated. However, it is a real and powerful force that has shaped events in European history and continues to do so today.