The societal changes during the eighteenth century that helped to increase the popularity of novels like "The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe" included:
1. **Increased literacy rates in the middle class**: As more people in the middle class learned how to read, there was a growing audience for novels like Robinson Crusoe.
2. **The growth of the publishing industry**: With the expansion of the publishing industry, novels became more widely available and accessible to a larger audience.
3. **The greater amount of leisure available to people**: As people had more free time for recreational activities, reading novels became a popular form of entertainment.
These factors contributed to the rising popularity of novels during the eighteenth century, making works like Robinson Crusoe more widely read and appreciated.