TheThe Ancien Régime Ancien Régime

Geography and History DepartmentIES Fray Pedro de Urbina

The Ancien RégimeThe Ancien Régime

It was the feudal It was the feudal system that went on system that went on until the American until the American and French and French Revolutions.Revolutions.

As a political, As a political, economical and economical and social system, it social system, it was characteristic of was characteristic of Europe from 15th till Europe from 15th till 18th centuries.18th centuries.

Versailles

International situationInternational situation Confrontations among states looking for continental and colonial dominance:Confrontations among states looking for continental and colonial dominance:

Until the middle of 17th century, hegemony was Spanish, then French and Until the middle of 17th century, hegemony was Spanish, then French and finally it was established a continental balance, watched by England, that finally it was established a continental balance, watched by England, that controlled the seas.controlled the seas.

The first colonial empires were Portugal and Spain’s ones (16th century), The first colonial empires were Portugal and Spain’s ones (16th century), later (17th c.) they started those of United Provinces (later (17th c.) they started those of United Provinces (NederlandsNederlands), United ), United Kingdom and France.Kingdom and France.

Political systemPolitical system

An absolute monarch An absolute monarch answerable only to God.answerable only to God.

All the powers in king’s All the powers in king’s hands.hands.

Parliaments (clergy, nobility Parliaments (clergy, nobility and 3rd Estate and 3rd Estate representatives) just representatives) just approved new taxes (King approved new taxes (King called them only when he called them only when he had need for).had need for).

Parliaments were stronger in Parliaments were stronger in United Kingdom and United United Kingdom and United Provinces (parliamentary Provinces (parliamentary monarchiesmonarchies).).

Louis XIV:L’État c’est moi.

Still a feudal societyStill a feudal society Three closed estates unfair society:Three closed estates unfair society:

Nobility (privileged). By blood or royal appointment. Landowners (fiefs). Nobility (privileged). By blood or royal appointment. Landowners (fiefs). Court noblemen lived in luxury. Exclusive posts in government and army. Court noblemen lived in luxury. Exclusive posts in government and army. No taxes.No taxes.

Clergy (privileged). Rural and urban properties (monasteries, cathedrals). Clergy (privileged). Rural and urban properties (monasteries, cathedrals). They got the tithe from peasants. Some charitable or cultural institutions They got the tithe from peasants. Some charitable or cultural institutions depended on them.depended on them.

3rd Estate (more than 90% of population), mainly poor peasants, serfs or 3rd Estate (more than 90% of population), mainly poor peasants, serfs or tenant freemen. Also urban groups: poor, servants and middle classes tenant freemen. Also urban groups: poor, servants and middle classes (craftsmen, merchants, bankers).(craftsmen, merchants, bankers).

Poor

CraftsmenMerchants

3rd Estate

Peasants

Privileged groups

Nobility Clergy

FEUDAL SOCIETY

Absolute monarch

An agrarian economyAn agrarian economy Big manors were cultivated by serfs Big manors were cultivated by serfs

(mainly in central and eastern Europe) (mainly in central and eastern Europe) or tenant and day laborer freemen or tenant and day laborer freemen (western and southern Europe). Very (western and southern Europe). Very basic tools, no fertilizers, required basic tools, no fertilizers, required fallow. Low yields. Main crops were fallow. Low yields. Main crops were cereals (a new one: corn). Self-cereals (a new one: corn). Self-sufficient villages’ economy.sufficient villages’ economy.

Guild system organized craftsmanship Guild system organized craftsmanship in urban workshops. Sometimes, in urban workshops. Sometimes, peasants were paid for craftwork peasants were paid for craftwork (domestic system) by a trader. (domestic system) by a trader. Beside, royal manufactures produced Beside, royal manufactures produced luxury goods: crystal, tapestries, luxury goods: crystal, tapestries, china (ceramics).china (ceramics).

Transport system (bad tracks for Transport system (bad tracks for carts, sail ships) was slow and unsafe. carts, sail ships) was slow and unsafe. There were local fairs inland and a There were local fairs inland and a colonial trade from some seaports: colonial trade from some seaports: precious metals, raw materials, precious metals, raw materials, tropical products (cacao, coffee, tea, tropical products (cacao, coffee, tea, tobacco), slaves…tobacco), slaves…

Mouldboard plough

The commercial capitalism originsThe commercial capitalism origins

Europe mapEurope map

Criticizing and reforming Criticizing and reforming AncienAncien Régime:Régime:

EnlightenmentEnlightenment (La Ilustración) (La Ilustración) Reason was advocated as the primary source and Reason was advocated as the primary source and legitimacy for authority.legitimacy for authority.

Fight against tradition, ignorance and superstition. They Fight against tradition, ignorance and superstition. They promoted scientific development and public education.promoted scientific development and public education.

Faith in human progress and personal merit, search for Faith in human progress and personal merit, search for happiness.happiness.

New economic theories: New economic theories: physiocracy physiocracy (Quesnay), (Quesnay), capitalism (A. Smith).capitalism (A. Smith).

Intellectuals and philosophers criticized absolutism and Intellectuals and philosophers criticized absolutism and estate society, establishing the bases of a new political estate society, establishing the bases of a new political and social system: liberalism (people’s sovereignty, and social system: liberalism (people’s sovereignty, separation of powers, individual rights).separation of powers, individual rights).

They were tolerant in religion but anticlerical. Most of They were tolerant in religion but anticlerical. Most of them were masons (secret society).them were masons (secret society).

The Encyclopedia (Diderot, The Encyclopedia (Diderot, D’AlembertD’Alembert) spread these ) spread these ideas.ideas.

Voltaire, Montesquieu, Rousseau, Voltaire, Montesquieu, Rousseau, Jovellanos.Jovellanos. Some kings became enlightened despots.Some kings became enlightened despots.

Quesnay

A. Smith

Diderot

D’Alembert

Jovellanos

Montesquieu, Voltaire and Rousseau