Reading detailed history in detailed accounts may help. Both from how they were the same and how they changed. Admittedly "risky" in how you may react but it is dual purpose in also aiding guidance.

Seeing the cycles can be interesting like how military elites often wind up diminished - often not violent revolution because that favors another set of warrior elites often but trade undermining their power but being too useful to purge - the alternative is being unable to maintain their forces. Nobles became vestigial compared to magnates and tycoons.

Post Sengoko Jidai merchants went from lower than farmers but better than untouchables to being allowed to carry one sword.