In the early 1950’s，historians who studied preindustrial Europe (which we may define here as Europe in the period from roughly 1300 to 1800) began， for the first time in large numbers，to investigate more of the preindustrial European population than the 2 or 3 percent who comprised the political　and social elite：the kings，generals，judges，nobles，bishops，and local　magnates who had hitherto usually filled history books.

　　= In the early 1950’s/，historians/ who studied preindustrial Europe/ (which we may define here as Europe/ in the period from roughly 1300 to 1800)/ began/， for the first time/ in large numbers/，to investigate more of the preindustrial European population/ than the 2 or 3 percent/ who comprised the political and social elite/：the kings，generals，judges，nobles，bishops，and local　magnates/ who had hitherto/ usually filled history books.

　　#在二十世纪五十年代早期/，史学家们/研究前工业时代欧洲的/(我们可将其定义为欧洲/这一时期的约自1300至1800)/开始/，首次/很多人/，调查前工业时代欧洲人口/超出于百分之二或三的/那些人口(百分之二或三的)构成了政治与社会精英/：国王、将军、法官、贵族、主教、以及地方官/，他们曾经充斥于史学著作。

　　*这个句子比较长，需要我们耐心阅读，有个地方很有迷惑性要尤其注意，investigate more of the preindustrial European population than the 2 or 3 percent who comprised the political　and social elite，调查的是百分之二或三的人口吗?不是。调查的是多于百分之二或三的人口，也就是百分之二或三的人口之外的那些人。