Before the left-right politics came about during the French Revolution, how are political views differentiated if at all?

by EDI-Thor
Pavonia

England had plenty of divisions, usually based around the power of the King. Roundheads versus Cavaliers, Whigs versus Tories, etc. People often used clothing and hairstyle to differentiate their views. There were divisions about religion as well, based on what it should be, the style of worship (high versus low), or if there should be an official state religion at all.

Overall there was fighting over dynastic control between different branches of a royal family n several countries. Again, England had a notable struggle between supporters of the House of Lancaster versus the House of York. I'm not sure if the difference in the color of roses with contemporary or not.

If you go far enough back to Italy you have the Guelphs and the Ghibellines, a long lasting division between people who supported the Holy Roman Empire versus those who supported the Pope. In time these were divided further between Black Guelphs and White Guelphs.