The Ancien Régime and
the Enlightenment
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The Ancient Régime

Economy and society

Politics

Ancien Régime

feudal system

absolute monarchy

Western Europe.

unlimited authority

Parliamentary monarchy

Louis XIV of France

(1643–1715)

Spains power

Lesser Hapsburgs

decline

Charles I

faced opposition

civil war

republic

1649

Charles II

re-established

James II

William of Orange

Glorious Revolution.

Bill of Rights,

United Kingdom of Great Britain.

after agreements

chamber

House of Lords

House of Commons

17th and 18th centuries

transformations

start of the Modern Age.

European monarchs

powerful.

absolute monarchy

skilled craftsmanship

increased trade

open economy

bourgeoisie

Humanism developed.

Advances in science and philosophy

New artistic styles

powerfull

control

wealthier

Catholic Church.

characterised the Middle Ages.

keep knowledge

new way of thinking

placed human beings

centre of the Universe.

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characteristics

guilds

domestic trade

traditional agriculture

low productivity

not commercial:

outdated techniques and tools.

own needs

associations of craftsmen

aspects

working hours

toolsl

prices

wages

the poor quality of the roads

internal customs duties

foreign trade

discovery of America

new sea routes to Asian markets.

large empires

expansion of trade routes

mercantilism

17th century

new economic system

country's wealth

how much gold and silver it possessed.

protectionist policies

accumulate precious metals,

higher prizes

encouraged exports

limited imports

The estates of the realm

Society in Spain

characteristics

sense of honour

work was dishonourable.

clergy increased

crisis

privileged groups,

no invest

commercial bourgeoisie

insignificant

small

economic crisis

petite bourgeoisie and peasantry poorer

more beggars, thieves or bandits.

demographic problems.

in Spain

market fall

expulsion of the Moriscos in 1609

loss of more than 200 000 people

poor harvests

frequent wars.

periodic plague epidemics,

The Third Estate had to pay tax.

The nobility and the clergy did not pay tax

diferences increased

petite bourgeoisie

peasantry

bourgeoisie

prominent merchants

day labourers

suffered

rising prices

poor harvests

higher taxes

for the higher bourgeoisie

small

craftsmen

merchants

not compete with new forms of production.

business owners

European economy developed.

richer

powerful

maintained their economic power

collecting tithes

income they received

peasants

theirs lands

very poor.

lesser nobility

lower clergy

dominant

Third Estate

First and Second Estates

nobility)

traditional privileges

the clergy

did not have any privileges.

ordinary people)

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