The document discusses the ancien régime, a feudal system in Europe that lasted from the 15th to the 18th centuries characterized by absolute monarchy and social hierarchies. It outlines the political dynamics, including Spain and France's colonization efforts, and the societal structure consisting of the privileged nobility and clergy versus the underprivileged 3rd estate. The text also covers the influence of Enlightenment thinkers who challenged this system, advocating for individual rights, liberalism, and scientific progress.

1. The Ancien Régime Geography and History Department IES Fray Pedro de Urbina

2. The Ancien Régime It was the feudal system that went on until the American and French Revolutions. As a political, economical and social system, it was characteristic of Europe from 15th till 18th centuries. Versailles

3. International situation Confrontations among states looking for continental and colonial dominance: Until the middle of 17th century, hegemony was Spanish, then French and finally it was established a continental balance, watched by England, that controlled the seas. The first colonial empires were Portugal and Spain’s ones (16th century), later (17th c.) they started those of United Provinces ( Nederlands ), United Kingdom and France.

4. Political system An absolute monarch answerable only to God. All the powers in king’s hands. Parliaments (clergy, nobility and 3rd Estate representatives) just approved new taxes (King called them only when he had need for). Parliaments were stronger in United Kingdom and United Provinces (parliamentary monarchies ). Louis XIV: L’État c’est moi.

5. Still a feudal society Three closed estates unfair society: Nobility (privileged). By blood or royal appointment. Landowners (fiefs). Court noblemen lived in luxury. Exclusive posts in government and army. No taxes. Clergy (privileged). Rural and urban properties (monasteries, cathedrals). They got the tithe from peasants. Some charitable or cultural institutions depended on them. 3rd Estate (more than 90% of population), mainly poor peasants, serfs or tenant freemen. Also urban groups: poor, servants and middle classes (craftsmen, merchants, bankers). Poor Craftsmen Merchants 3rd Estate Peasants Privileged groups Nobility Clergy FEUDAL SOCIETY Absolute monarch

6. An agrarian economy Big manors were cultivated by serfs (mainly in central and eastern Europe) or tenant and day laborer freemen (western and southern Europe). Very basic tools, no fertilizers, required fallow. Low yields. Main crops were cereals (a new one: corn). Self-sufficient villages’ economy. Guild system organized craftsmanship in urban workshops. Sometimes, peasants were paid for craftwork (domestic system) by a trader. Beside, royal manufactures produced luxury goods: crystal, tapestries, china (ceramics). Transport system (bad tracks for carts, sail ships) was slow and unsafe. There were local fairs inland and a colonial trade from some seaports: precious metals, raw materials, tropical products (cacao, coffee, tea, tobacco), slaves… Mouldboard plough

7. The commercial capitalism origins

8. Europe map

9. Criticizing and reforming Ancien Régime: Enlightenment (La Ilustración) Reason was advocated as the primary source and legitimacy for authority. Fight against tradition, ignorance and superstition. They promoted scientific development and public education. Faith in human progress and personal merit, search for happiness. New economic theories: physiocracy (Quesnay), capitalism (A. Smith). Intellectuals and philosophers criticized absolutism and estate society, establishing the bases of a new political and social system: liberalism (people’s sovereignty, separation of powers, individual rights). They were tolerant in religion but anticlerical. Most of them were masons (secret society). The Encyclopedia (Diderot, D’Alembert ) spread these ideas. Voltaire, Montesquieu, Rousseau, Jovellanos. Some kings became enlightened despots. Quesnay A. Smith Diderot D’Alembert Jovellanos Montesquieu, Voltaire and Rousseau