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Within the communities differences among members started to emerge especially concerning the ownership and management of media productions. These differences reflected economic and social reality especially within the βλάχoi (vlahoi) communities. Due to the growth in manufacturing and the handling of primary resources when the residents of these areas became part of a commercial network, social divisions and a strong element of competition would gradually emerge. The most obvious economic and social distinction lied between farmers and merchants or craftsmen (i.e. tailors, cheese makers). Leake, referring to the early 19th century example of Syrrako speaks about several noticeable classes that consisted of the traders working abroad, the middle class (i.e. merchants, shopkeepers, craftsmen) and the farmers. Competition also existed socially. Strategies were formulated in order to prevent class upgrades.

Only the upper classes (i.e. wealthy merchants and chief shepherds) appear to develop relationships between them. Nonetheless there is an evident contrast between primary producers on one hand and manufacturers – traders on the other [1]. With the inclusion of the Tzoumerka region in the Greek State, new political management would create further confrontation among social classes. In Matsouki, for example, the distinction is made between seasonal migrant farmers and residents engaged in craft, agricultural and commercial activities. Distinctions also begin to arise within classes. For example opposition would emerge between chief shepherds, i.e. owners of assets and capital, and the weathered and worn out shepherds.

[1]. The Economic and Social Transformation of Rural Communities, D. Psychogios eds, National Centre for Social Research, Athens, 1987, p 21.