Portrays and analyzes the life of France between two revolutions, a time known as the old regime. All aspects of French life are covered: the economy, social development, religion and culture, French activity overseas, and not least politics and public life. General Editor's Preface v List of Contributors xi Introduction 1(6) William Doyle The economy 7(35) Joel Felix Agricultural archaism, agricultural modernization 9(2) Cycles of growth 11(2) The hardships of the seventeenth century 13(2) Possibilities for growth 15(3) The pitfalls of modernization 18(1) Commercial and industrial development 19(2) The textile industry 21(1) Mercantilism and Colbertism 22(3) A century of growth 25(2) Prosperity and economic liberalism 27(3) The economy and state finances 30(1) Finances and war 31(2) Forms of state credit 33(3) Peace and the repayment of state debts 36(3) The American war, economic crisis, and the end of the old regime 39(3) Society 42(36) Gail Bossenga Social stratification: class and status 43(3) Honour and rank 46(6) Legal status: the importance of privilege 52(2) The clergy in a confessional state 54(3) A divided nobility 57(5) Peasants, seigneurialism, and rural communities 62(7) Urban groups and privileges 69(6) Conclusion: stresses in society in the old regime 75(3) Culture and religion 78(27) David A. Bell The two Romes 79(3) A widening cultural gap 82(3) A militant and divided gap 85(4) The hidden God and the terrestrial city 89(2) From the Court to the city 91(3) The Enlightenment 94(5) Les enfants de la patrie 99(6) France overseas 105(34) Pierre H. Boulle D. Gillian Thompson Colonial policies and administration 106(2) The colonies to 1713 108(5) The West Indies and the sugar revolution 113(5) Peace and development to mid-century 118(4) New France after Utrecht 122(4) The colonial empire at war, 1740s-1763 126(6) The colonies after 1763 132(2) A fragile economic boom 134(3) Conclusion 137(2) The state and political culture 139(30) Julian Swann King in council 140(3) The royal Court 143(2) State and administration 145(6) The fiscal military state 151(3) The critics of state power 154(1) The parlements 155(5) Corporate politics 160(4) The public and its opinions 164(4) Conclusion 168(1) Politics: Louis XIV 169(26) William Doyle Personal rule 170(2) Authority asserted 172(3) Government under Colbert 175(1) A warrior king 176(2) Domestic dissidence 178(3) The arrogance of power 181(3) The Nine Years War 184(2) The Spanish Succession 186(3) The war effort 189(2) The final years 191(2) The great reign and its legacy 193(2) Politics: Louis XV 195(28) Julian Swann The regency, 1715-1723 196(5) The `golden age' of Fleury 201(4) Louis le bien-aime 205(2) The mid-century crisis 207(5) The diplomatic revolution 212(2) The Seven Years War 214(1) The parlements: the enemy within? 215(2) The Brittany affair 217(2) Maupeou's revolution 219(2) Conclusion 221(2) Politics: Louis XVI 223(26) Munro Price The reign in context 223(3) The new reign 226(3) The system of Maurepas 229(5) Foreign policy and the American war 234(4) Finance, 1774-1787 238(3) Politics, 1781-1787 241(3) The final crisis 244(5) Conclusion 249(4) William Doyle Further reading 253(5) Chronology 258(4) Maps 262(7) Territorial Expansion of France, 1648-1678 262(1) Administrative Divisions 263(1) North America in the Eighteenth Century 264(1) North America after the Treaty of Paris, 1763 265(1) India in the Age of Dupleix 266(1) The West Indies in the Eighteenth Century 267(2) Index 269