Custom and Hierarchy

I would like to pose a discussion that is rather general. I found the sheer amount and the incredible intricacy of custom, practices, rituals, hierarchy etc. very interesting. I don't know if I was expecting to see a sparser lifestyle with a larger focus on all men having access to the knowledge of nature. Why isn't this picture more democratic? Why do these officials get to pick and choose what the people get to know and use? What does this presence of custom and ritual tell us about their place in the world of science and in a community dedicated to revealing nature? Is this depiction just a result of the fact that Bacon lived in a world of ceremony, monarchy, and intrigue?