French French Society in the Society in the 1717thth Century: Century:

Rich vs. Poor

The country The country of Franceof France

Distribution of LandDistribution of Land Most land belonged to the Most land belonged to the aristocratsaristocrats (nobles) (nobles)

or the royal familyor the royal family

Catholic Church Catholic Church was also a major land owner was also a major land owner

Feudal system Feudal system – strip farming in which the lords – strip farming in which the lords owned the land and peasants simply worked itowned the land and peasants simply worked it

Most peasants were farmers and owed most of Most peasants were farmers and owed most of their product to their lords their product to their lords

French SocietyFrench Society

Three parts: Three parts: Peasants and the Peasants and the

poor in the citiespoor in the cities (most people)(most people)

BourgeoisieBourgeoisie (middle class)(middle class)

Upper ClassUpper Class (King, (King, aristocrats and aristocrats and leading members leading members of the Catholic of the Catholic Church)Church)

Upper Class

Bourgeoisie

Peasants & the Poor

PeasantsPeasants

Many worked as farmers on Many worked as farmers on feudal feudal manors manors – they didn’t own the land or what – they didn’t own the land or what they farmedthey farmed

Life was harsh and brutal for mostLife was harsh and brutal for most Few could read or write and had no Few could read or write and had no

access to access to educationeducation Heavily Heavily taxedtaxed by the aristocrats so many by the aristocrats so many

had little to show for their hard workhad little to show for their hard work

Poor in the CityPoor in the City

Most poor were those who had come from Most poor were those who had come from the countryside looking for a the countryside looking for a better lifebetter life

Worked as shopkeepers, artisans, clerks Worked as shopkeepers, artisans, clerks or labourersor labourers

Food was Food was expensiveexpensive so many were poor so many were poor and lived in and lived in slumsslums

Many of the poor became beggars, Many of the poor became beggars, vagrants vagrants and thievesand thieves

The BourgeoisieThe Bourgeoisie

As cities were forming and growing, As cities were forming and growing, successful artisans and tradesmen began successful artisans and tradesmen began to emergeto emerge Formed Formed guildsguilds to conduct business and to conduct business and

protect their profitsprotect their profits Still, Still, monopoliesmonopolies and controls held by the and controls held by the

King made it difficult for them to make a profitKing made it difficult for them to make a profit As a result, many supported overthrowing As a result, many supported overthrowing

the laws and privileges of the feudal orderthe laws and privileges of the feudal order Also supported personal liberties, freedoms Also supported personal liberties, freedoms

and and civil rights civil rights

Upper ClassUpper Class

Consisted of the King, aristocrats and Consisted of the King, aristocrats and leading members of the leading members of the Catholic ChurchCatholic Church

Extremely wealthy and spent money on Extremely wealthy and spent money on extravagant meals and goodsextravagant meals and goods

Lived a lavish lifestyle with Lived a lavish lifestyle with no concern no concern for for many of the other people living in France many of the other people living in France during this timeduring this time

The The Sun KingSun KingLouis XIVLouis XIV

Ruled France for 72 years!Ruled France for 72 years! Saw himself as the center for Saw himself as the center for arts and culturearts and culture

Gave himself the name “Sun Gave himself the name “Sun King” because he believed he King” because he believed he

was the source of all light in was the source of all light in the nationthe nation

Built a massive palace at Versailles to Built a massive palace at Versailles to solidify his importancesolidify his importance Became the Became the royalroyal residence of France residence of France

Life at VersaillesLife at Versailles

Louis forced all important Louis forced all important noblesnobles to live at to live at Versailles with himVersailles with him

Daily life revolved around the King – royal Daily life revolved around the King – royal ceremonies ceremonies for every part of the dayfor every part of the day

Life for many nobles was boring as they Life for many nobles was boring as they were not part of the governmentwere not part of the government Louis ruled the country on his own with the Louis ruled the country on his own with the

help of only a few ministers – saw himself as help of only a few ministers – saw himself as an an absolute monarch absolute monarch (total power)(total power)

Palace of VersaillesPalace of Versailles

Palace of VersaillesPalace of Versailles Took 50 years and Took 50 years and 36,00036,000 people to build people to build

Housed 5,000 people, including servantsHoused 5,000 people, including servants

The palace covers 19,000 acres of land and the The palace covers 19,000 acres of land and the massive massive gardensgardens themselves include about themselves include about 37,000 acres of land!37,000 acres of land!

One of the largest palaces in the world - it has One of the largest palaces in the world - it has more than 700 rooms, 2000 windows, 1250 more than 700 rooms, 2000 windows, 1250 fireplaces, 67 staircases and 17 massive fireplaces, 67 staircases and 17 massive chandeliers in the chandeliers in the Hall of Mirrors Hall of Mirrors alone!alone!

Palace of VersaillesPalace of Versailles

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=852eroBwDrA