I would call today’s billionaires the early adopters of future living standards
That’s an interesting idea, but I’m not sure it works well historically. At which point the lifestyle of hoi polloi started to resemble that of a Roman senator? Does today’s middle class live like medieval feudal lords?
We find this idea in science fiction
In the sci-fi from the 50s. Contemporary sci-fi is rather more dystopian (with some exceptions, notably Iain Bank’s Culture).
That’s an interesting idea, but I’m not sure it works well historically. At which point the lifestyle of hoi polloi started to resemble that of a Roman senator? Does today’s middle class live like medieval feudal lords?
In the sci-fi from the 50s. Contemporary sci-fi is rather more dystopian (with some exceptions, notably Iain Bank’s Culture).
The ’60s? Widespread literacy (and cheap paperbacks), indoor plumbing, private gardens, the dinner party or similar gathering as a social occasion.
In some interesting ways. There are similarities in diet, and to a certain extent occupation. Of course there are also large differences.