Ancient Regime

Question 1

What is the Ancient Regime?

Answer 1

Name given to the Social Economic and Political characteristics of European Monarchies during the 18th Century

Question 2

What happened in the 18th Century?

Answer 2

A period of transition between the Early Modern Age and the consolidation of the Modern Age. During which, important changes took place which contributed to the collapse of the ancient regime

Question 3

What was the 18th Century Society like?

Answer 3

Feudal society

Question 4

What was the 18th Century Economy like?

Answer 4

Agrarian Economy

Question 5

What was the main form of government in Europe in the 18th Century?

Answer 5

Absolute Monarchies

Question 6

How did the feudal system work?

Answer 6

Society was divided into three estates. Each of them had specific functions and laws and they were determined by birth. There were 2 main groups: the privileged and non-privileged.

Question 7

How was the feudal relationship between the king and lords?

Answer 7

The king exchanged fief (a piece of land) and peasants in return for loyalty and military aid from the knights.

Question 8

How was the feudal relationship between the lords and the knights?

Answer 8

The lords exchanged food protection and shelter in return for homage and military service from the knights.

Question 9

How was the feudal relationship between the knights and peasants?

Answer 9

The knights exchanged food, protection, and shelter in return for the peasants to work on their land and pay rent.

Question 10

What privileges did the Nobility and Clergy have?

Answer 10

Exemption of most taxes, were not judged equally in court and had different laws, had possession of most of the land and had the best job. The nobility also held most of the public positions and land.

Question 11

What were tithes?

Answer 11

Portion of income given to the church by the peasants.

Question 12

What amount of the population were the peasants?

Answer 12

Nearly 85% of the population in countries like France and Spain.

Question 13

How was life for the peasants?

Answer 13

They had to pay taxes, participated in the army, and barely had any possessions. They lived at the limit of subsistence and suffered severely from increases in taxation.

Question 14

What were the bourgeoisie in charge of?

Answer 14

They were in charge of most of the trading activities, banking, craftsmanship and lawyers. Some of them became very rich and had very high standards of living. They had huge economic importance but could not participate in politics, which is what they soon demanded to do.

Question 15

How did production work?

Answer 15

It was usually for self-subsistence and most land was used to cultivate crops (cereals). This provided just enough food for the population to survive on

Question 16

What was subsistence farming based on?

Answer 16

On a 3-field crop rotation system and fallow (leaving soil without being sown in order to restore its fertility)

Question 17

What was agriculture dependent on and what consequences did it have?

Answer 17

On climate, which meant that subsistence crises were common and periods of hunger alternated with periods of plenty.

Question 18

What consequences did subsistence crises have on the peasants?

Answer 18

Life became very difficult for them, prices increased and with them, hunger and misery.

Question 19

Who did the land belong to?

Answer 19

Most lands (around 40%) belonged to the privileged groups and the king. The rest belonged either to the bourgeoisie or was communal land used by the residents of the parish (church)

Question 20

What were the guilds?

Answer 20

A group of artisans that controlled industry in cities. They were the basic production unit from the middle ages.

Question 21

What did the guilds control?

Answer 21

They controlled the quantity, size and quality of production.

Question 22

What was thought about innovation?

Answer 22

They were not encouraged and were very rare. Traditional production prevailed.

Question 23

How were products fabricated?

Answer 23

They used textile machines in peasant’s homes. These were called DOMESTIC SYSTEMS and helped increase production and reduce prices.

Question 24

What happened to the industry in the 18th century?

Answer 24

Population began to grow and people began favouring industrial production

Question 25

What was created to aid industrial production and how did they work?

Answer 25

Royal Factories. They produced mainly weapons and luxury articles (porcelain, glass, tapestries). They were protected by the state and although they created industry, they were not competitive.

Question 26

Why was there a growth in international trade?

Answer 26

The creation of colonial empires and the development of navigation.

Question 27

Explain Triangular Trade

Answer 27

Europe gave Manufactured goods to Africa, Africa gave slaves to America, America gave raw materials to europe.

Question 28

What were Royal Monopolies?

Answer 28

Something where the king would appoint a company with full control of trade over a determined area. This provided great benefits for both the crown and company.

Question 29

What was the divine right of kings?

Answer 29

This was a theory that believed that the king’s power was provided by God himself.

Question 30

What did the king do in an absolute monarchy?

Answer 30

They took all the decisions, created all the laws, named the judges and was also head of the army.

Question 31

When and where did absolutism appear?

Answer 31

in France during the 17th Century

Question 32

Who was Jacques Bossuet?

Answer 32

The French bishop and author who created the theory of ‘the divine right’.

Question 33

What did absolutism mean for the nobility and king?

Answer 33

It meant the king no longer depended on the nobility politically. The nobility did not really care as their social and economic influence was expanded.

Question 34

What did absolute monarchies do to control their countries and colonies?

Answer 34

They created a strong body of civil servants, permanent diplomats (officials that represented the country abroad) and a powerful army.

Question 35

How did the monarchy pay for all the expenses they had?

Answer 35

They increased taxes for the non-privileged groups.

Question 36

What new political model arose in Europe after the failure of absolutism? When?

Answer 36

Parliamentarianism in the 17th Century

Question 37

What did the bourgeoisie want? What did they do to try and get it?

Answer 37

They wanted political power that corresponded to their economic position. They led several revolutions and managed to stop the growing power of the king and controlled their parliament.

Question 38

What was the glorious revolution?

Answer 38

It was a revolution that took place in 1688 and forced the Stuarts to abdicate in England. William III of Orange was named the new English king. He had to accept a limitation on his powers and had to sign a ‘Bill of Rights’ to acknowledge parliamentary power.

Question 39

What author and theory supported parliamentarianism

Answer 39

John Locke, and the ‘Social Contract Theory’.

Question 40

What did the ‘Social Contract Theory’ state?

Answer 40

That the government had to ensure and protect the natural rights of people (equality and liberty). It also stated that if the government did not respect these rights the people had a right to revolt. There was also limited suffrage where Locke believed only owners could contribute to state and take decisions.

Question 41

What were the 3 main ideas of the ‘Social Contract Theory’?

Answer 41

Liberty, that was ensured by some basic human rights. Equality before the law, which fought against the privileges of the feudal society. Property, as a way of social differentiation.