Social divisions, privileges and burdens Flashcards
What comprised the First Estate?
The First Estate comprised the clergy and had approximately 150k members.
What vital religious duties did the Church perform?
The Church administered mass, heard confessions, and performed christenings, marriages, and last rites.
How was the Church financially supported?
The Church was a wealthy institution with large income from rents and dues paid for the use of the Church taxes, principally the tithes.
Who were at the top of the First Estate?
At the top were the Cardinals and archbishops who came from the ranks of the nobility.
What was the lifestyle of the majority of the clergy?
The majority of the clergy did not live a flamboyant lifestyle and some were far poorer than their counterparts.
What tax exemption did the First Estate have?
The clergy were not required to pay the taille, the main French direct tax.
How were the clergy prosecuted?
Clergy could only be prosecuted in their own church courts.
What was the Second Estate made up of?
The Second Estate was made up of the nobility, numbering between 200k and 400k.
How much land did the nobility own?
The nobility owned 1/5 to 1/4 of French land and mostly lived off the rents.
What is the noblesse d’epee?
The noblesse d’epee refers to the hereditary nobility, traditionally the only group allowed to wear a sword.
What role did the noblesse de court play?
Noblesse de court had access to royal patronage and served as ambassadors and councillors.
What were the hobereaux?
Some impoverished provincial hereditary nobility were nicknamed the hobereaux.
What is the noblesse de robe?
Noblesse de robe acquired noble status through venality and performed legal and administrative duties.
Did the Second Estate pay the taille?
The Second Estate did not pay the taille and had exemptions or lower rates for other direct taxes.
Who made up the Third Estate?
The Third Estate was made up of the commoners, which included everyone else.
Who were the wealthiest in the Third Estate?
The wealthiest were the bourgeoisie, who relied on their skills for income.
What was the status of urban peasants and workers?
The urban peasants and workers were semi-skilled and unskilled, dependent on trade and food prices.
How did peasants work the land?
Peasants worked the land under seigneurs under a feudal agreement.
What could rich-owning peasants do?
Rich-owning peasants could become relatively prosperous by selling surpluses at town markets.
What was the status of most peasants?
Most peasants were subsistence farmers, legally bound to seigneurs.
What taxes were peasants required to pay?
Peasants were required to pay direct taxes such as the taille, vintigieme, and tithe.
What military obligation did peasants have?
Every male peasant was liable for military service and unpaid labor service called corvee royale.
