Lecture:  The Social Order of the Ancien Regime

Outline

Government

Absolutism

Estates General

Intendants

Classes: The Three Orders

Clergy: supposed to pray

- "regular" clergy

- orders

Nobility: supposed to fight

- noblesse d'epee

- noblesse du robe

- les grandes

- Versailles

/sale of offices

- social mobility

- derogage

The "Third Estate": supposed to work

- peasants

- merchants

/journalists, lawyers, etc.

- poor

Economics

Agriculture

Commerce

Guilds

"Privilege"