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What do you think is the point that the artist is trying to make with this picture?. France Under the Old Regime. 15 th Century - 1789. The Church (the First Estate). About 130,000 individuals 97 % of France was Catholic Owned ¼ of property in Paris and 10% nationwide.
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What do you think is the point that the artist is trying to make with this picture?
France Under the Old Regime 15th Century - 1789
The Church(the First Estate) • About 130,000 individuals • 97% of France was Catholic • Owned ¼ of property in Paris and 10% nationwide. • Tithe = 8-10% of harvest collected each harvest • Paid only a voluntary 3% of income in taxes • Was a source of charity
The Nobility(the Second Estate) • .4-1% of population and owned 1/3 of land. Rights over the rest. Received 1/12 to 1/6 of harvest. • Divided between nobles of the sword and of the robe. • Hereditary privileges (exclusive hunting rights, feudal dues, and exemption from taxes and the corvee) • Nobles at Versailles received most appointments to the church, army and bureaucracy. Others (hobereaux) weren’t always that rich.
Everyone ElseThe “Third Estate” • Urban poor spend 40-60% of their income on bread. Food riots were common. Worked 14-16 hour days. • Life expectancy =50 years, ½ of children died before age 5 • 80% were rural peasants, 1/4 - 1/3 of produce to nobility
The Bourgeoisie • 5% of the population • Law, investment, royal administration, landlords • Enthusiastic for Enlightenment ideals • Increased from 700,000 in 1700 to 2.3 million in 1780
Slaves • The main colony was Saint-Domingue (modern Haiti) • >450,000 working in the Caribbean • Regulated by the Code Noir of 1685: no legal or family rights • Half died within a few years.
Government • No written constitution • Roman law in the South and customary in the North • Cruel punishments for offenses