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Okay, this is both an AHC as well as an AHQ, because I’m not sure to what extent this held in actual history. How many Aristocrats made the leap to become industrialists? Did many engage with the industrial economy? Could more have done so? Could they have been persuaded to do so in greater numbers and in more ways? What incentives could have been given, if they weren’t given IOTL, and what were the differences between different countries?

I’m asking this question partly as a thought experiment about the, “ruling classes”. Traditionally, Aristocrats are thought of as the ruling class in European societies beforehand the industrial revolution; I think it’s the same story with industrialists, most regard them as the ruling class in industrial societies. Could the Aristocrats have tried to evolve en Masse and mostly survive the economic and societal transition somewhat intact? Could most of them have shifted the basis of their power from land, towards factories and industry?

I’m guessing this would require an earlier breakup of guild-like mechanisms as well as other things, like assertive monarchs prepared to undermine their land and power based off of land.
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