Political:

          What is the form of government?

          Who has power?

          How did they get power?

          How do they keep power?

          Is any group challenging the current leader?

          What are the limits of the leader's powers?

Economic:

          What is the economic system?

          What is the source of wealth?

          Are taxes collected and who pays them?  What are they used for?

          What are the resources that are prevalent or imported?

          Are any sources of wealth diminishing?

          Are any new sources of wealth being discovered, developed or  invented?

Social:

          What are the social classes?

          What determines a person's class?  Is it set in the law, customs, etc.?

          Are there any opportunities for social mobility?

          What privileges or burdens are associated with each class?

          Are new opportunities arising that make mobility possible?          

          What are the standards of right and wrong for the time period?

          Are any new ideas or customs emerging?

          Have any old ideas or customs been rejected