No significant societal gains, either technological, sociological or artistic are being made, or have been made in recent memory. Your culture has remained essentially as it is for generations. Rulers tend to emphasise maintaining the status quo.
Poor: very low income. compared to many. He usually does not or cannot own property. His home is usually of lesser quality, sometimes due to uncaring landlords who may also be the Poor person's employer.
Guardian(s): This person or creature become the character's guardian(s). This is due to the parents being absent or the character was orphaned at a young age.
Rivalry: A rival to you or your family cause upheaval forcing you to relocate possibly to a far distant land. (Work with your DM to detirmine the details)