The Ancien Régime crisis (Summary)
At 18th century most of Europe lived under the Ancien Régime social and political system: Unequal society divided in groups marked by birth (estates): Privileged: owned most of the land and public positions. Didn't pay taxes. Nobility Clergy Unprivileged: they had to pay taxes. Peassants: worked the land for the privileged. Urban working classes: manufacturing workers, servants, soldiers... Bourgeoisie: Artisans, merchants and bankers. Absolute Monarchy controlled the trhee branches of state: legislative, executive and judicial). Subsistence farming was the most important economic activity , based on the crop rotation system. www.oneyoungindia.com The Enlightenment was an intellectual movement that developed in Europe during 18th century that criticised the Ancien Régime, based on reason, education, tolerance, freedom and equality. Thinkers believed in a new gobernment system called political liberalism. Enlightened despotism was a form of government in the 18th century in