The Ancien Régime and the Enlightenment: A Historical Overview
The Ancien Régime
The Ancien Régime was the political, economic, and social system in Europe before the French Revolution of 1789.
Politics
Absolute monarchy predominated in Western Europe. The crown held unlimited authority, believed to be divinely ordained (e.g., Louis XIV in France).
Economy
The economy was primarily agricultural. Starting in the 13th century, harvests improved due to:
- Wider use of agricultural techniques like crop rotation.
- Improved agricultural machinery.
- Introduction of new crops like potatoes and corn.
Craftsmanship
During the 18th century, population growth increased demand for consumer goods, especially textiles. Royal manufacturers played a significant role.
Commerce
Domestic trade was limited by transportation systems. However, international trade intensified, particularly between Europe and the American colonies. The British controlled major trade routes between Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas.
Society
Society was divided into three estates:
- Nobility: Landowners whose social role was fighting.
- Clergy: Their social role was praying.
- Third Estate: Everyone else, including peasant farmers, craftsmen, and merchants. Their social role was working.
Certain estates enjoyed privileges.
The Enlightenment: Ideas for Change
The Enlightenment was a major intellectual movement in 18th-century Europe. Enlightenment thinkers criticized the Ancien Régime and proposed new ideas for societal reform. They advocated for equal rights and sought to improve society through reason, science, and education. Their ideas spread through newspapers, books, schools, and academies.
Key Enlightenment Thinkers
- Montesquieu: Argued for the separation of powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government.
- Rousseau: Introduced the idea of popular sovereignty. In The Social Contract, he argued that government derives its authority from the consent of the governed, not from God.
- Voltaire: Favored a strong monarchy but also supported a parliament.
Enlightened Despotism in Spain
Enlightened despotism, a new form of government in some 18th-century European countries, aimed to modernize the country and improve living standards by combining absolute monarchy with Enlightenment ideas (e.g., Charles III of Spain).
The War of the Spanish Succession
The War of the Spanish Succession began after the childless Charles II of Spain died. Philip V won the war and, inspired by the French system, implemented the Decretos de Nueva Planta, abolishing local laws and institutions in Aragon due to their lack of support during the war.
Charles III’s Reforms
Charles III implemented reforms to modernize Spain based on Enlightenment principles. He focused on developing the Spanish economy by creating royal manufacturers and improving roads, modernizing agriculture, reducing the Church’s power (expelling the Jesuits), and supporting science and agriculture through the creation of Sociedades de Amigos del País.
Neoclassicism (1760-1830)
Popular among Enlightenment thinkers and monarchs, Neoclassicism manifested in:
- Painting: Imitated classical sculpture, often depicting mythological or historical themes (e.g., Jacques-Louis David’s The Coronation of Napoleon).
- Sculpture: Primarily marble, representing mythological themes and famous figures.
- Architecture: Emphasized balanced proportions and classical elements like rounded arches, columns, and domes (e.g., the Pantheon, Prado Museum).
Rococo (1730-1760)
Favored by the nobility, Rococo style is characterized by:
- Painting: Used pastel colors (e.g., Fragonard).
- Sculpture: Often small, depicting mythological themes.
- Architecture: Elaborate interiors decorated with curves, seashells, and floral elements (called “rocaille” in France, hence the name Rococo).