Ancien regime i

1. THE ANCIEN REGIME

2. What is the Ancien Regime? The Ancient Regime is the social, political and economic system that existed in Europe before the French Revolution during the Early Modern Age (16th-18th centuries).

3. Low growth of the population During the Early Modern Age there was a low natural growth because high birth rates were counteracted by high death rates . It depended on human and natural disasters which caused famines and epidemics.

4. Agrarian-based economy The 75% of the population belonged to the Primary sector . There was a closed or subsistence economy : the population depended on resources, goods and services that were provided by its own members. There was little or no trade with other regions.

5. Agrarian-based economy

6. Agrarian-based economy Survival of the Feudal system Lords owned the biggest lands or large estates . Landowners rented plots of lands to the peasants. Lords received a significant amount of incomes from the rent of lands .

7. Craft-industry Craftsmen made their products by hand . They worked in small workshops, which were located in the owner´s house. They products were sold there too. They controlled the whole production process, from the beginning to the end. They used very little machinery. The sources of energy were: human, animal or the one given by water or wind.

8. Trade Long-distance trade The triangular trade: capture slaves in Africa and take them to America in order to work in mines and plantations, export the raw materials produced by slaves to Europe, make manufactured products in Europe, exchange those products in Africa for slaves, repiting the cicle. Controlled by the bourgeoise, who became very rich.

9. Economic system After the discovery of America, two economic systems developed: Commercial capitalism Mercantilism 16th-century Parisian fair, showing how trade facilitated great economic expansion (John James Chalon, 1822)

10. Economic System THE 16TH CENTURY: COMMERCIAL CAPITALISM Thanks to the discovery of the New World there was a significant economic growth in Europe. The New World became an important new market for European exports. Commercial capitalism developed : A new system that enabled private businesses to accumulate profits, especially through trade. Factors : The emergence of new forms of craft production in workshops and through the domestic system . The establishment of banks (commercial operations) New commercial and financial practices (bills of exchange, loans)

11. Economic System THE 17TH CENTURY: MERCANTILISM There was a serious economic crisis , caused mostly by the enormous amounts of gold and silver that arrived in Europe from America. An excess of these precious metals caused their value to fall, while prices increased. Mercantilism imposed by Europe´s absolute monarchs Based on the idea that a country´s wealth depended on how much gold and silver it possessed. In order to accumulate more of these precious metals, monarchs implemented protectionist policies to limit imports and encourage exports.

12. The estates of the realm In the Early Modern Age, there was still a closed society : There was a rigid social system which didn´t allow people to change groups easily. The estates of the realm continued to be the dominant form of social organisation in Europe.

13. The estates of the realm

14. The estates of the realm

15. The estates of the realm

16. The estates of the realm THE BOURGEOISIE Upper middle class or bourgeoisie was composed of prominent merchants and business owners, bankers, investors, functionaries, lawyers… They become richer and more powerful as the European economy prospered. The lower middle class, or petite bourgeoisie composed mostly of small merchants and craftsmen

17. The estates of the realm THE PEASANTRY It was the most numerous group in society. It was composed of poor farmers and labourers They suffered during the 17th century because of: poor harvests, rising prices and the higher taxes which they had to pay to the crown, nobility and clergy.

18. Political system Three types of monarchy during the Early Modern Age

19. Political system Authoritatian monarchy The Cortes in Spain

20. Political system Authoritatian monarchy Authoritarian monarchs ´ measures in order to govern their kingdoms more effectively :

21. Political system Authoritatian monarchy They unified all the territories that were under their control . Before uniting the kingdoms in the Iberian Peninsula . After uniting the kingdoms in the Iberian Peninsula .

22. Political system Authoritatian monarchy They established administrative unity for the entire kingdom .

23. Political system Authoritatian monarchy In Spain , the Catholic Monarchs established religious unity for the entire kingdom .

24. Political system Authoritatian monarchy They created royal armies to end their dependence on the nobility for military support .

25. Political system at the beginning the 18th century

26. Political system Absolute monarchy The authoritarian monarchies evolved and became absolute monarchies .

27. Political system Absolute monarchy It´s impossible for the Absolutism to separate monachy and State . I am the State ! Louis XIV of France

28. Political system Absolute monarchy Absolutism was born in France in the 17th century . It was supported by the theories of some philosophers like Bossuet , who believed in the Divine Right of Kings . These theories believed that monarchs represented God on Earth and everyone should obey them . Neither laws nor institutions could be above the king . Jaques- Bénigne Bossuet

29. Political system Absolute monarchy Louis XIV of France was the first absolut monarch . He took control of the government without a prime minister . He ruled according to his own wish without asking advice from his ministers or the General Estates (similar to a parliament ). He created a system of centralised and efficient power . He controlled his people tightly , including the nobles. He defended the divine origin of his power . He considered himself to be the incarnation of the State : « Létat , cést moi » (I am the State ). He developed a complete programme of propaganda and self-glorification . Louis XIV

30. Political system Parliamentary monarchy English parliamentary monarchy was the exception in the absolutist Europe . English monarchs ´ power was limited by the parliament . In 1215 the Magna Carta Libertatum (Great Charter of Freedoms ) had begun to limit the power of the King. Over the following centuries , Parliament became increasingly important and more representative . English Magna Carta Libertatum . 1215

31. Political system Parliamentary monarchy In the early 17th century , the kings of the House of Stuart wanted to govern as absolute monarchs . Charles I of England wanted to impose the Absolutism . The bourgeoise didn´t support the absolute monarchy . In 1642 t here was a civil war between the supporters of absolute monarchy and the defenders of Parliament .

32. Political system Parliamentary monarchy The civil war was led by Oliver Cromwell . He was in favour of the trial and execution of Charles I. In 1649 Charles I was tried by Parliament , found guilty of treason and executed . The Republic was proclaimed and Oliver Cromwell became the ruler of England between 1653 and 1658. Oliver Cromwell

33. Political system Parliamentary monarchy In 1660, Parliament re- established the monarchy and Charles II was named King. In 1679 the Habeas Corpus Act was passed by the Parliament : It prevented the King from arbitrarily imprisoning people . Charles II of England

34. Political system Parliamentary monarchy In 1688, the « Glorious Revolution » took place: Parliament overthrew James II. They offered the throne to his daughter and her husband : Mary II and Wlliam III (1689). They swore to respect the Bill of Rights . It limited the powers of the monarch . It submitted some of his decisions to Parliament . The monarch could not impose taxes without Parliament´s consent . In this way , in England the separation of the three powers were imposed . James II of England

35. Political system Parliamentary monarchy

36. Political system THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ENGLISH MODEL OF PARLIAMENTARY MONARCHY In the late 17th century , the English philosopher John Locke : Criticised absolutism . Defended the principles and values of the English model of parliamentary monarchy . He enunciated the doctrine of the political liberalism : John Locke, by Herman Verelst . His reflections became the origin of the Enlightenment in France .

37. Political system THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ENGLISH MODEL OF PARLIAMENTARY MONARCHY

38. Revision

39. Elaborated by Prof. Mª Isabel Aguña Aguerri Social Science bilingual teacher