UNIT 1

THE
TRANSFORMATION
OF THE ANCIEN
REGIME
 1. The 18th century
The Early Modern and the Modern Age

The 18th century was a period of transition between Early modern Age and Modern Age.
In this period, important changes contribute with the collapse of Ancien Regime.

Then, the most development was the intellectual movement---- Enlightenment

The supporters wanted to use :
-Reason
-Education
-Science
Because they want to comat the ignorance of the society

This movement transformed the basic structures of Ancien Regime.

In some countries, the absolute monarchs introduced the social reforms to improve the quality of the
life of their subjects. Then, they didn't allow to participate to choosing the government.

New ideas of industry and commercial ---- economic expansion.

The 3 states of the society continued, but the bourgeosie (wealthy middle class) had more importnt and
more political power.

The artictic styles reflected by the taste's monarchs, because they choose the style that they prefered.
Also, the monarchs, nobility and middle wealthy class sponsored artistics.

2. The Enlightenment
A change in thinking

-It twas an intellectual movement in the 18th century.

The Enlightenment thinkers criticised the traditional structures of Ancien Regime and they wanted to
combat the ignorance of the society.
They wanted to use the reason, education and science.

The main principles

The reason was the real source of knowledge. Beliefs and dogma wasn't considered rational.

Learning and teaching are essential because the people learn as much as posible because in the future
they wanted to learn to anothers ---- 'enlighten society'

Equality and liberty were the key elements. All the people had the same rights and freedoms.
-Their ideas spread throught newspaper, periodicals, schools, academies... Also organised meetings in
salons to discuss the ideas.

-D' Alembert and Diderot did a book thet including a lot of themes ----- Encyclpedia
It's a book that included philosophy, grammar. science and art themes.

2.1. Enlightenment criticisms and proposals

In relation to politics, they limited the power of the absolut monarchs.

-Montesquieu argued the separation of the power (legislative, executive and judicial powers) and some
persons dedicated to other one.

-Voltaire favoured the strong monarch, but he support the idea of the separation of the powers.

-Rousseau introduced the popular sovereignty.

In relation to economy, there was a group of intellectuals ---- Physiocrats that think that the agriculture
was the key of the economy.
They rejected the Mercantilism and they think that the states of the realm not interfere in the trade.

In relation to society the thinkers didn't wanted inequalities of the estates of thr realm. They argued that
didn't group had privilegies under the law.

2.2. The Enlightenment in Spain

-Their ideas were spread by an important group of thinkers and politicians --- Jovellanos and the
Conde of Floridablanca.

-They wanted to use the Enlightenment ideas to improve the economy, cultural and social conditions.
Because, in the reign of Lesser Hapsburgs Spain---- declined.

To communicate their ideas:

Published scientific and literary paper.
Schools and academies.
Associations like sociedades economicas de amigos del pais.

-They created public spaces like Botanical Garden and the nobility, ----the Church and the people that
wanted the traditional structures rejected this ideas.
 3. ENLIGHTENMENT POLITICS
Enlightened despotism: rise and fall

Enlightened despotism was a new form of government that development n some European countries in
the 18th century. Its objective was to modernise the country and improve subject´s quality of life by
combining absolute monarchy with Enlightenment ideas.
-They created centralised governments to consolidate their power and implement their policies.

-They asigned enlightened thinkers to important positions.

-To avoid challenges to their power, they tried to make changes peacefull --- education and new laws.

Carlos III of Spain implemented various enlightened reforms like promotion of agriculture, industry,
education...
Enlightened despotism didn´t succeed as a reform of government because maintained the privileges of the
estates and the reforms not guarantee equality freedom.

3.2. The united States: an Enlightenment victory

Ideological- The Enlightenment ideas of equality and liberty formed the basis for the the independence
movement.

Political - GReat Britain reject to give the colonies representation in Parliament. It was where laws were
passed that including related to colonial taxes.

socio-economic- prosperous middle-class colonists wanted control over their own commercial activities.

The conflict started when the Britsih government increased taxes. The American colonist refused to pay
them and began to arm themselves.
The war broke out in 1775.

The colonists proclaimed the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America --- 4 July 1776.
This significant the triumph for the Enlightenment.

The United States Consitution was written in 1787. It established federal republic based on popular
sovereignty and the separation of powers. They recognised the legal equality
of all citizens. This meant that only male citizens voted.
 4. Economic changes

At the beginning of 18th century the economy was the sameb, but the Enlightenment monarchs introduced
reforms.

4.1. Agriculture
The number of harvest improved for many reasons:

-Agricultural techniques like crop rotation improved the producity.

-Agricultural machines improved the farmer's producity.

-The repopulation of uninhabited areas increases the production.

-New crops: potatoes and corn.

4.2. Skilled crafstmanship

The population growth because increase the demand of the consumer gods.

In rural areas, the domestic trade increase, principle in the production of textil. Other artisans didn't
increase their prodcution for the restriction by the guilds.

Royal factories produced luxury goods:

-Crystal lamps,
-Cloth, to adorned the palaces. This influence affected that
-Silk the economy was limited.

4.3. Commerce
In the early 18th century, domestic trade in Europe was inadequate transportation.
Later, some countries improve roads and built new ones.
Built:
-Canals to connected river
-Port installations were modernised

International trade, increased the exchange between America and Europe ---- atlantic ocean the main
trading area.

Triangular tarde: America, Europe and Africa

(controlled by the British)
4.4. Economic reforms in Spain
The Spanish economy growth in the 18th century ---- reofrms by Felipe V and Carlos III

The sociedades economicas de amigos del pais played an important role--- carrying scientific, economic
and technical studies

Agriculture: canals to facilite the irrigation built in Castilla and uninhabited areas in Sierra Morena.

Industry: royal factories were established for silk, porcelain... The textil produced in Cataluña.

Trade: Cadiz lost its monopoly on transalantic trade. Free trade.

5. 18th- century society

The estates of the realm

The population in Europe increase for the improved of nutrition and hygiene conditions ---- less epidemics

The Enlightenment thinkers introduced reforms:

-They criticised the social and economic influence of the nobility and the clergy (if this changes, they reduced
their dominance)

-Enligtened despots passed laws to limit the influence of clergy and nobility. Church lands and buildings
eliminated and reduce the number of convents.

-The bourgeosie was inspired by Enlightenment ideas --- value of work and progress (protested the
nobility and clergy privileges)

-The peasants didn;t improve their living conditions. Some peasants earn money extra.

5.1. Women
Women continued to dependent on their brothers, parents and husbands ---- differences social classes

-In wealthier families: women learned to read and write. They supervised household chores and cared
of family (morally correct lifestyle)

-Female artisans and peasants were illiterate. They had to work in the agriculture and made the household
chores.
Also cared to other families and earn extra money.
 5.3. Social reforms in Spain
The Bourbon kings implemented social reforms. The law passed by Carlos III that eliminated legal dishonour
of labour (nobility work to living)

People didn't accepted this ideas ---- Esquilache Riots

Carlos III eliminated the traditional long capeas and the wide-brimmed hats because the criminals conceal
their face and weapons

-The Bourbons adopted measures relating social groups.

They expelled in 1767 the Jesuit because thy wanted eliminated the power of education that had
them.

-Thay control the marginalised social groups (Roma and homeless people)

6. ROCOCO AND NEOCLASSICISM

The influence of the Enlightenment it is a great cultural change.

-In Europe, Enlightenment ideas were spread through primary schools and schools for the applied arts.
-Art became more than a decorative element for palaces. New museums enabled people to enjoy.
-Two styles: Rococo and Neoclassicism

6.1. Rococo

The Rococo style was popular in Europe between the 1730s and 1760s. It reflected the aesthetic tastes of
the nobility , who wanted decorations that the represented the joys of life.

Architecture: Rococo interiors were loaded decorated with curves, seashells and floral elements.

Sculpture: They were often small and represented joyful and mythological themes.

Painting: pastel colours were used to depict mythological themes, rural festivals and domestic scenes.
6.2. Neoclassicism
It´s popular in 1760s to 1830. It imitated classical art and reflected the aesthetic tastes of Enlightenment
thinkers and the middle class. They rejected the leisurely lifestyle. It reflected ideas of order and moral
correctness.
The monarchs of this century modernised the cities like new boulevards, goals in mind...

Architecture: Buildings were well-proportionated and featured classical elements like rounded aches,
columns and domes.

Sculpture: It made of marble and depicted mythological themes or famous people.

Painting: imitated classical sculptures. Idealised the images of famous people and used the themes of
mythologic or history

6.3. Rococo in Spain

-Religious themes
-The painter Luis Paret depict scenes from Spanish social life.

6.4. Neoclassicism in Spain

-Carlos III has been called Madrid´s best mayor because modernised the city.
-Ventura Rodriguez design -- Cibeles Fountain.
-Bayeu´s paintings in the Royal Palace in Madrid.