1. The ANCIEN RÉGIME

Political, social and economical system which existed in most of Europe during the 18th century.
Renaissance - French Revolution (1789)
Term first used by French Revolutionaries = period that had to end.
Countries ruled by absolutism: monarch -> absolute control.
CHARACTERISTICS
1. 1. Absolute monarchy: monarch - 3 powers
  1. Judicial
  2. Executive
  3. Legislative
2. 2. Feudal society
3. 3. A stagnant population due to:
  1. a) High birth and death rate due to:
    1. Poor hygiene
    2. Arcaic medical techniques
  2. b) Periodic demographic crisis due to:
    1. Famines
    2. Epidemics
    3. Wars
    4. Illnesses
4. 4. Agricultural economic system
  1. Agriculture - first economic resource
    1. 80% of the workforce
    2. Set of rights lord - peasants
      1. PEASANTS
        1. Gave a portion of the harvest
        2. Paid taxes
        3. Worked on the land
      2. LORD
        1. Farmland
        2. Housing
        3. Prodection
  2. Industry
    1. Guilds: medieval assosiations of specialized workers
    2. Domestic system
  3. Trade
    1. Luxury: colonies
    2. Poor inside the realms
    3. Lack, slow and expensive ways of transport
DIVINE RIGHT THEORY
1. King = God's wish, agent of God
2. The king acted for the benefit of the people
3. Anyone was superior than him. Attempt to depose the king = sacrilegious act.

Resource summary

	Created by Rita Pons Ameller about 10 years ago