1. Louis XIV r. 1643-1715 “L’État c’est moi” (I am the state)
Succeeds to throne in 1643 at age 5
Regency of Giulio Mazzarino or Cardinal Mazarin (‘Richelieu’s shadow’ ) lasts until 1661
Fronde

2. A 19th century historical study

3. Versailles Statistics
2,000 acres of grounds
12 miles of roads
27 miles of trellises
200,000 trees
210,000 flowers planted every year
80 miles of rows of trees
55 acres surface area of the Grand Canal
12 miles of enclosing walls
50 fountains and 620 fountain nozzles
21 miles of water conduits
3,600 cubic meters per hour: water consumed
26 acres of roof
51,210 square meters of floors
2,153 windows
700 rooms
67 staircases
6,000 paintings
1,500 drawings and 15,000 engravings
2,100 sculptures
5,000 items of furniture and objects d'art
150 varieties of apple and peach trees in the Vegetable Garden
Andre le Nôtre designed the grounds

4. Leisure “activities” of the aristocracy
Gambling
Music
Games
Embroidery
Food
Art
Hunting
Ballet

5. Jean-Baptiste Colbert 1616-1683
French Minister of Finance (under Louis XIV)
His mercantilist economic policies helped to finance the extravagance of the Sun King’s reign (Versailles Palace for ex.)
There are 4 professions of importance to the nation:
Agriculture
Trade
Army
Navy
Uniform weights & measures.
Opposed tolls on internal trade.

6. Mercantilism
Term used to describe the dominant economic principles of 17th and 18th century Europe
The term mercantile system is used Adam Smith in On the Wealth of Nations 1776
Major mercantilist countries include:
France, Spain, the Netherlands, Great Britain
and Portugal

7. Colbert’s mercantilist policies con’t.
Expansion of French territories
Acquired Islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe in the West Indies (Caribbean) for sugar plantations

8. Colbert’s policies con’t
Encouraged settlement of colonies in Louisiana, Canada, Santo Domingo (Dominican Rep.)
Sponsored the explorer Robert Cavelier de La Salle
Explored the Great Lakes, Ohio and Mississippi Rivers
1682 reached Gulf of Mexico & claimed the Mississippi R. Valley for Louis XIV

9. Colbert’s mercantilist policies con’t
High tariffs on foreign manufactured goods
-1665 tariff on foreign sugar to protect French refineries in Marseilles, Orleans and Nantes e.g.
Supported population growth
-Discouraged the young from taking holy orders
-Families of 10 or more were exempt from taxation

10. World map 1570

11. 17c Dutch Global Commerce

12. Characteristics of Mercantilism
1. “Bullionism” – the economic health of a nation is measured by the amount of precious metal (gold or silver) it possessed.
2. Trade was to be carried out between the
mother country and colonies or provinces
3. A “favorable” balance of trade was desired to benefit the mother country
Exports > imports (trade surplus)
High tariffs on imported manufactured goods
Low tariffs on imported raw materials
Colonies cannot trade with anyone but the mother country

13. Examples of raw materials

14. Brazil and the Portuguese

15. Characteristics continued…
Manufacturing in mother country is encouraged
Goods produced are sold domestically and as exports

16. 4. … colonies = ‘captive’ market, a closed circle of trade is ideal
Manufactured goods
Mother Country
Colony
Raw materials
Cheap labor
Agricultural self-sufficiency of mother country
Sea power is necessary to protect colonies and control foreign markets
7. Mother country imposes taxes of all kinds to achieve these goals

17. One example of a commodity: Sugar production

18. The finished products

19. Sugar production then and now

20. More manufactured goods

21. Manufacture of cocoa beans

23. The finished product!