Glossary

1. GLOSSARY
Enlightenment- An European intelectual movement of the 18th century that was leaded
mostly by the bourgeoisie and defended the use of reason to defeat the Ancien Regime
Reason- The power of mind to think and form judgements logically. Its importance was
defended by Enlightenment.
Ancien Regime- A political, economic and social system based on inequality. It is used
to designate the period prior to the French Revolution. Appart from United Kingdom
and Netherlands, it was the system of every European state.
Absolutism- A form of monarchy in which the monarch holds supreme autocratic
authority, based on the belief of the divine origin of power.
Tolerance- Defended by Enlightenment figures, it’s the willingness to accept beliefs that
are different from your own, so you can act freely.
Parliament- Assembly of elected politicians who make the laws for their country. UK
was the first place in which was established.
Separation of powers- It refers to the division of a state’s government into branches,
each with independent powers in order to establish a more righteous system
Despotism- Synonim of Absolutism.
Economic liberalism- Economic ideology based on strong support for an individual
market economy and private property in the means of production.
Fallow land- Terrain not used for a certain period (in order to let it recover its nutrients)
that is included in the crop rotation system.
Home work (Domestic System)- Artisanal way of production that is based on the
handwork of peasants to transform raw material into an elaborate product.
Manufactures- Artisanal way of production specialized on luxury items, which are
elaborated by a large amount of craftmen that work together.
Centralised state- Political system that is characterized by the total control of the state
management by the monarch. It is typical of Absolutism.
Decree- An official order submitted by the king that has the force of law.
Royal factories- Enterprise managed by the State that was specialized in the production
of luxury items.

2. Bourgeoisie- The middle class compound by the craftmen and merchants whose
economic power didn’t correspond to its lack of political influence
Third State- Synonim of the Non Privileged group, the common people as part of a
country’s political system that assembled from the bourgeoisie to the peasants.
Divine right- The right of a sovereign to rule as set forth by the theory of government
that holds that a monarch receives the right to rule directly from God and not from the
people
Estamental society- Social organization based on the existence of a Privileged and Non
Privileged Groups, whose main characteristic is that each of them has its own laws.