How did the formation of a middle class affect peasants during the middle ages? a. peasants had an opportunity to move up in the social hierarchy by becoming artisans, merchants, or other types of professionals. b. peasants had fewer opportunities to influence the economy or the government because only the upper class could become members of the middle class. c. peasants found themselves in an even lower position than before, as more people made up the upper and middle classes. d. peasants who had previously been in the lower class automatically moved up to the middle class, allowing them to obtain high social and political positions.