Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
THE ECONOMY AND SOCIETY OF THE ANCIEN RÉGIME - Coggle Diagram
THE ECONOMY AND SOCIETY OF THE ANCIEN RÉGIME
Characteristics
Traditional agriculture with very low productivity.
The dominance of the guilds.
Domestic trade grew very little due to internal customs duties and the poor quality of the roads.
Mercantilism
Mercantilism was 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.
Making foreign products very expensive.
To keep gold and silver in the country.
17th century
Economic crisis in Spain and in most parts of Europe.
American markets become more self-sufficient.
Spanish craftsmen could not compete with products made in other countries.
Prices in general increased.
Many farmlands were abandoned and craft production fell.
Royal finances were also in crisis because spending was much higher than income.
Estates
First and Second
Nobility and Clergy
Manteined their economic power.
The lesser nobility and the lower clergy were often very poor.
Did not pay taxes.
Third
Had to pay taxes.
Groups
The upper middle class or bourgeoisie.
The lower middle class or petite bourgeoisie.
The peasantry and day labourers suffered.
Society in Spain
Sense of honour.
Idea that work was dishonourable.
Privileged groups
The nobles did not usually invest in productive or profit-making activities.
The number of people entering the clergy increased.
Bourgeoisie
The commercial bourgeoisie was small and insignificant.
Became poorer.
Caused some people to become beggars, thieves or bandits.
Severe demographic problems.
Periodic plague epidemics.
The expulsion of the Moriscos.
Poor haervests.
Frequent wars.
