The term middle class does not apply only to all the inhabitants of the city, but designates as well the people of once privileged middle class which had an important role in the society since its beginning in the Middle Ages. Only few individuals that were conform to all the special conditions were privileged to obtain the status of a middle-class. Acceptance into this society class signified a special status, privileges, rights and duties. The accepted became craftsmen and merchants; some were also important industrials, bankers and officials. Their principal values were work, money, education, family and good relationships. Due to this fact and the ambition for progress and success, their power has been straightening constantly, especially in the first half of the 19th century. This enabled them to win the middle-class or the March Revolution in 1848 that finally led to abolition of the feudal system. At the same time the industry begins to bloom, which gives the middle class additional power and even more influence in the society. This influence can be further noticed in the first decades of the 20th Century. Their life style, sophistication, and culture became a universal way of life to lower classes that tried to imitate them. At the same time, the middle class tried to distinguish themselves and their habits from the rest. In Slovenia the middle class reached their full power in the thirties of the previous Century, when their social life was fully developed as well, but disappeared a little in the times of the occupation of Ljubljana during the World War II. After the end of war the changed political directions caused the ruin of middle-class status in our country.
In the first part I explained some basic terms connected to the theme of this work. Then I proceeded to a short description of the history of the Slovenian (middle-class) society and general characteristics and habits of the middle class. Afterwards I examined in further details the social life of the first half of the 20th Century middle-class in Ljubljana, who liked to walk and hang out on the 'promenade' and in Tivoli where a Great Fair was organised. They often went to taverns and cafes or go on excursions on free days. They also frequently visited the theatre and opera, as well as different concerts and cinemas.
In the second part of my project I analysed to what extent and which sources connected to the theme of the middle class and/or their social life can be found in study material for social science in the 4th and 5th class. I described how this material could be used for classes. I also analysed the permanent exhibitions in three museums in Ljubljana and one gallery. Additionally, I analysed the exhibition material connected to the mentioned theme, firstly from the perspective of usefulness in the social science classes, secondly how can these exhibition items help the teacher and the students to achieve the teaching objectives.
The analyses showed that there is at least one source (written and/or graphical) in the most of the study material, which can be identified with middle class or its social life, but only separate aspects of social life can be analysed at a time. The same goes for the permanent exhibitions in the analysed institutions. The greatest number of different themes connected to the social life of the middle class can be analysed in the National Museum of Contemporary History, although the middle-class appearance and their clothing culture can be seen in all of the analysed museums. Historical sources found in the two museums can help the teacher when approaching the theme of changes in the middle class after the year 1945.
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