Mr. Meester AP European History Pages 480-493 The Old Regime Mr. Meester AP European History Pages 480-493

Features of the Old Regime Socially, pre-Revolutionary Europe was based upon 4 premises. Legal privilege benefited the aristocracy. Church benefited also from system. Formation of labor guilds. Peasants paid high taxes and feudal dues

Traditional Lifestyles Most aspects of social life during the 1700s in Europe supported the ideas of traditional lifestyles. Many nobles and peasants desired the return of the feudal manorial system and its stability. An agrarian lifestyle was preferred to that found in the growing cities.

Hierarchy & Privilege During the 18th century a strict sense of class distinction was supported The nature of social relationships helped to promote class distinction. Individual rights were subservient to the rights granted to one’s social class.

The Aristocracy During the 1700s most nobles enjoyed a great deal of wealth. They were usuaully the dominant social, political, and economic force within a society.

British Nobility Few nobles in comparison to rest of Europe. Made up of only 400 families Representation in House of Lords & Commons Controlled a lot of land Invested in trade, commerce, and industry Controlled the social and political make-up of the English shires.

French Nobility Approximately 400,000 nobles Sword Nobles vs Robe Nobles Worked together to maintain the status quo French nobles received greater status if they were the favorites of the court at Versailles. (hobereaux-provincial nobles) Regardless all noble enjoyed certain special privileges

Eastern Aristocracy In the East the nobility became more repressive The military traditions of these nobles was important. Poland Austria Prussia Russia

Aristocratic Resurgence A reaction to the monarchies around Europe moving towards Absolutism Saw this as a threat to the social position and feudal privileges and took action Made it more difficult to become noble Wanted elite positions in the Army, Church, & Bureaucracy to be Nobles only Wanted control of government institutions to use as a check against the power of the monarch Improved financial position through higher rents and fewer taxes

Peasants & Serfs In the early 1700s almost ¾’s of Europe’s population lived in rural areas Most were either peasants or serfs Serfs were bound to a particular piece of land

Peasant Obligations French peasants were subject to Banalites and the Corvee Serfs in Austrian and Prussia had much less freedom (Robot) Serfs in Russia had things the worst Barshchina In Ottoman controlled regions peasants were free, but dependent on landlords

Peasant Rebellions Rebellions were relatively common during the 1700s The largest was in Russia, Pugachev’s Rebellion Smaller revolts occurred in Eastern Europe and Austria Almost nothing happened in the west

English Game Laws An excellent example of the Aristocracy’s control of the rural areas is the English Game Laws Only landowners were allowed to hunt Poaching was a capital offense The laws would be changed in the early 1800s

Households in the West Tended to be nuclear (5-6 people) Usually only 2 generations Children moved out in their early teens Couples generally got married in their early to mid-twenties The couple would hire a live in servant Servants were very different from today

Households in the East Very different from the west. Multi-generational, 9-20 members Couples marry younger Brides often older than husbands The landholding structure in the East had much to do with this Serfs didn’t have near the freedoms of peasants in the west

Family Economy Prior to industrialization the household was the basic unit of production Small farms, workshops, small merchants, etc. Everyone contributed to the family business The death of the father could be a disaster

Women & Family Economy For women it was all about establishing and maintaining the household Would start by age 7 Varied depending on the family business Dowries were essential to getting married Occupations varied between rural & urban Many professions were close to women

Kids & Family Economy Childbirth was extremely dangerous to both mother and child Wet nurses were common Childbirth wasn’t always welcome Illegitimate births, infanticide, lack of birth control The early 1700s saw an awareness in helping abandoned children There many reason for abandonment across social classes Literacy and education became more important especially in upper classes