Old Regime France: 1648-1788 (The Short Oxford History of France)

The years between the Fronde and the French Revolution were the longest period of calm in French history. For much of it, France dominated the international scene in Europe and made efforts to achieve a comparable role in the wider world. Meanwhile, French cultural achievements set standards imitated everywhere. This volume, bringing together an international team of contributors, surveys the full variety of the period on its own terms rather than as a mere prelude to later revolutionary upheavals. Title Page......Page 4 General Editor’s Preface......Page 6 Contents......Page 8 List of Contributors......Page 12 Introduction -- William Doyle......Page 14 1. The economy -- Joël Félix (Translated by David A. Bell)......Page 20 Agricultural archaism, agricultural modernization......Page 22 Cycles of growth......Page 24 The hardships of the seventeenth century......Page 26 Possibilities for growth......Page 28 The pitfalls of modernization......Page 31 Commercial and industrial development......Page 32 The textile industry......Page 34 Mercantilism and Colbertism......Page 35 A century of growth......Page 38 Prosperity and economic liberalism......Page 40 The economy and state finances......Page 43 Finances and war......Page 44 Forms of state credit......Page 46 Peace and the repayment of state debts......Page 49 The American war, economic crisis, and the end of the old regime......Page 52 2. Society -- Gail Bossenga......Page 55 Social stratification: class and status......Page 56 Honour and rank......Page 59 Legal status: the importance of privilege......Page 65 The clergy in a confessional state......Page 67 A divided nobility......Page 70 Peasants, seigneurialism, and rural communities......Page 75 Urban groups and privileges......Page 82 Conclusion: stresses in society in the old regime......Page 88 3. Culture and religion -- David A. Bell......Page 91 The two Romes......Page 92 A widening cultural gap......Page 95 A militant and divided church......Page 98 The hidden God and the terrestrial city......Page 102 From the Court to the city......Page 104 The Enlightenment......Page 107 4. France overseas -- Pierre H. Boulle and D. Gillian Thompson......Page 118 Colonial policies and administration......Page 119 The colonies to 1713......Page 121 The West Indies and the sugar revolution......Page 126 Peace and development to mid-century......Page 131 New France after Utrecht......Page 135 The colonial empire at war, 1740s-1763......Page 139 The colonies after 1763......Page 145 A fragile economic boom......Page 147 Conclusion......Page 150 5. The state and political culture -- Julian Swann......Page 152 King in council......Page 153 The royal Court......Page 156 State and administration......Page 158 The fiscal military state......Page 164 The critics of state power......Page 167 The parlements......Page 168 Corporate politics......Page 173 The public and its opinions......Page 177 Conclusion......Page 181 6. Politics: Louis XIV -- William Doyle......Page 182 Personal rule......Page 183 Authority asserted......Page 185 Government under Colbert......Page 188 A warrior king......Page 189 Domestic dissidence......Page 191 The arrogance of power......Page 194 The Nine Years War......Page 197 The Spanish Succession......Page 199 The war effort......Page 202 The final years......Page 204 The great reign and its legacy......Page 206 7. Politics: Louis XV -- Julian Swann......Page 208 The regency, 1715-1723......Page 209 The ‘golden age’ of Fleury......Page 214 Louis le bien-aime......Page 218 The mid-century crisis......Page 220 The diplomatic revolution......Page 225 The Seven Years War......Page 227 The parlements: the enemy within?......Page 228 The Brittany affair......Page 230 Maupeou’s revolution......Page 232 Conclusion......Page 234 The reign in context......Page 236 The new reign......Page 239 The system of Maurepas......Page 242 Foreign policy and the American war......Page 247 Finance, 1774-1787......Page 251 Politics, 1781-1787......Page 254 The final crisis......Page 257 Conclusion -- William Doyle......Page 262 Further reading......Page 266 Chronology......Page 271 Maps......Page 275 Index......Page 282 The kingdom of France, a byword for upheaval and instability for a century before 1660, was transformed over the subsequent generation into the greatest power in Europe and an institutional model admired and imitated almost everywhere. A further century elapsed befoer this hegemony was challenged, and even then the collapse of monarchy in 1788 took most people by surprise. This book, bringing together an authoritative international panel of historians, portrays and analyses the life of France between two revolutions, a time later known as the old regime. All aspects of French life are covered: the economy, social development, religion and culture, French activity overseas, and not least politics and public life, where our understanding has been completely renewed over recent years. A detailed chronology and full bibliography complete this compelling analysis of an age behind whose calm and assured facade forces were developing which were to shape a very different country and continent. "This book portrays and analyses France between two revolutions, a time later known as the old regime. All aspects of French life are covered: the economy, social development, religion and culture, French activity overseas, and not least politics and public life, where our understanding has been completely renewed over recent years. Bringing together an international panel of historians, this is a compelling analysis of an age behind whose calm and assured facade forces were developing which were to shape a very different country and continent."--Jacket

Bringing together an international panel of historians, this book examines France between two revolutions, a time later known as the old regime. All aspects of French life are covered: the economy, social development, religion and culture, French activity overseas, and politics and public life. A detailed chronology and full bibliography complete this compelling analysis.

For school of classical liberal thought which arose in France in the middle of the eighteenth century, the goal of enlightened government was to substitute a rational economic order for an older, inefficient economic system.