London and paris in the 1700s
Paris
Overview
An age of excess in Paris forecasted the turn towards a bloody and tumultuous revolution. Throughout the middle part of the 18th Century, France's delicate economic balance was beginning to falter. France's status as a superpower only grew throughout the 18th Century, aided by the proportionate decline of neighboring Spain as a European superpower. Despite France's vast resources in natural waterways and arable lands, their natural population boom caused the continuous subdividing of feudal lands. Eventually, farming families had too few acres to live off of, and this problem was exacerbated when the royals raised the taxes on farmers. Although more efficient through technological advances, farming could not rescue the peasants from poverty, because distribution of produce was hassled by these many subdivisions of feudal land. However, the excess of the royals was an undeniable factor behind the proletariat of France rising up in revolution.
The Royals of Paris
The monarchy, interested primarily in their personal pleasures, did not support policy or programs which would benefit the destitute farmers. Rather, they raised taxes to continue to fund their lavish lifestyles. King Louis XV took control of the French throne in 1715, and when Madame de Pompadour became his mistress at the age of 23, a lack of real interest in politics throttled Louis. He moodily lived behind the shadows of his successful great-grandfather, King Louis XIV, "The Sun King", and his administration reflected these indifferences. With regards to foreign policy, Louis XV drew the admiration of the French people with France's success in the War of Austrian Succession during the 1740s. This led to a "peaceful" alliance between the French throne and the Austrian Habsburgs, eventually leading to the taking of Austrian princess Marie Antoinette as Louis XVI's - Louis XV's grandson - wife. However, France's lack of success during the 7 Years War against Britain in North America during the 1760s enraged the French people - a precursor to coming revolution in the next two decades.
Madame de Pompadour's lap of luxury was surpassed in its excess only by Marie Antoinette a few decades later. de Pompadour, a seductress and actress, brought a sense of style and heightened sense of haughtiness to the French court. She performed in and attended many theatre productions with her King, and hosted many of the first names in painting, sculpting, and philosophy in her salons, including Voltaire. Still today, she is eponymously credited with inventing the "pompadour" hairstyle - a hairstyle involving the pushing of hair up and away from the forehead, for both men and women, in a "poof". Marie Antoinette married King Louis XVI in 1770 and served as France's queen until 1793, when she was forced to abdicate and was beheaded. Initially beloved by the French people, she was eventually seen as only as a drainer of French coffers, hosting large parties and serving elegant feasts constantly while her people were starving in the streets.
An age of excess in Paris forecasted the turn towards a bloody and tumultuous revolution. Throughout the middle part of the 18th Century, France's delicate economic balance was beginning to falter. France's status as a superpower only grew throughout the 18th Century, aided by the proportionate decline of neighboring Spain as a European superpower. Despite France's vast resources in natural waterways and arable lands, their natural population boom caused the continuous subdividing of feudal lands. Eventually, farming families had too few acres to live off of, and this problem was exacerbated when the royals raised the taxes on farmers. Although more efficient through technological advances, farming could not rescue the peasants from poverty, because distribution of produce was hassled by these many subdivisions of feudal land. However, the excess of the royals was an undeniable factor behind the proletariat of France rising up in revolution.
The Royals of Paris
The monarchy, interested primarily in their personal pleasures, did not support policy or programs which would benefit the destitute farmers. Rather, they raised taxes to continue to fund their lavish lifestyles. King Louis XV took control of the French throne in 1715, and when Madame de Pompadour became his mistress at the age of 23, a lack of real interest in politics throttled Louis. He moodily lived behind the shadows of his successful great-grandfather, King Louis XIV, "The Sun King", and his administration reflected these indifferences. With regards to foreign policy, Louis XV drew the admiration of the French people with France's success in the War of Austrian Succession during the 1740s. This led to a "peaceful" alliance between the French throne and the Austrian Habsburgs, eventually leading to the taking of Austrian princess Marie Antoinette as Louis XVI's - Louis XV's grandson - wife. However, France's lack of success during the 7 Years War against Britain in North America during the 1760s enraged the French people - a precursor to coming revolution in the next two decades.
Madame de Pompadour's lap of luxury was surpassed in its excess only by Marie Antoinette a few decades later. de Pompadour, a seductress and actress, brought a sense of style and heightened sense of haughtiness to the French court. She performed in and attended many theatre productions with her King, and hosted many of the first names in painting, sculpting, and philosophy in her salons, including Voltaire. Still today, she is eponymously credited with inventing the "pompadour" hairstyle - a hairstyle involving the pushing of hair up and away from the forehead, for both men and women, in a "poof". Marie Antoinette married King Louis XVI in 1770 and served as France's queen until 1793, when she was forced to abdicate and was beheaded. Initially beloved by the French people, she was eventually seen as only as a drainer of French coffers, hosting large parties and serving elegant feasts constantly while her people were starving in the streets.
London
Overview
The city of London - and England as a whole - was still reeling from the Glorious Revolution in 1688 as it entered the 18th Century, which saw the overthrow of the liberal King James II by the joint protestant monarchy of Dutch prince and princess of Orange, William & Mary. Sanitation in the city was a problem that persisted throughout the 18th Century, and much like the River Seine in Paris, the Thames River was essentially a sewer system for the citizens of London. This uncleanliness played a role in checking England's population growth, causing diseases such as smallpox, influenza, dysentery, and typhus. Although by the end of the century, London boasted a greater population than Paris - approximately 1 million to Paris' 600,000 - sanitation was a bigger problem for England than for France.
Religion and Commerce
Religion remained a delicate subject in London and England as a whole for the whole of the 18th Century. After the overthrow of James II, "dissenters" - Presbyterians, Congregationalists, Quakers, and Baptists - of the Anglican church were taxed heavily and restricted by laws. Conservatives tried forging a more indelible bond with the Church of England so as to limit the number of dissenters. In 1753, an act was passed making only marriages legal if they were to be overseen by an Anglican minister. These dissenters soon began to flee to North America and take up amnesty there. Catholics began to flee to the colony of Maryland primarily, Congregationalists to the New England region, Quakers to Pennsylvania, and Baptists to the southern colonies.
Despite England's relative lack of innovation, the country traded more effectively than did France. At the start of the century, Thomas Newcomen invented the steam driven piston for pumping water from mines, and England used this to advance its supremacy in sea trade. London became the hub of this trade, with boats entering and exiting the Thames River constantly. They controlled the market in grain and wool production, and trade with the East Indies brought different spices, tea, and cloth to the island nation. This exchange caused a metamorphosis of British style from heavy fabrics such as wool to more lighter, brighter fabrics. The city of London also traded much with its colonies in North America, until those colonies emancipated themselves from the British crown and placed an embargo on trade with Great Britain.
The city of London - and England as a whole - was still reeling from the Glorious Revolution in 1688 as it entered the 18th Century, which saw the overthrow of the liberal King James II by the joint protestant monarchy of Dutch prince and princess of Orange, William & Mary. Sanitation in the city was a problem that persisted throughout the 18th Century, and much like the River Seine in Paris, the Thames River was essentially a sewer system for the citizens of London. This uncleanliness played a role in checking England's population growth, causing diseases such as smallpox, influenza, dysentery, and typhus. Although by the end of the century, London boasted a greater population than Paris - approximately 1 million to Paris' 600,000 - sanitation was a bigger problem for England than for France.
Religion and Commerce
Religion remained a delicate subject in London and England as a whole for the whole of the 18th Century. After the overthrow of James II, "dissenters" - Presbyterians, Congregationalists, Quakers, and Baptists - of the Anglican church were taxed heavily and restricted by laws. Conservatives tried forging a more indelible bond with the Church of England so as to limit the number of dissenters. In 1753, an act was passed making only marriages legal if they were to be overseen by an Anglican minister. These dissenters soon began to flee to North America and take up amnesty there. Catholics began to flee to the colony of Maryland primarily, Congregationalists to the New England region, Quakers to Pennsylvania, and Baptists to the southern colonies.
Despite England's relative lack of innovation, the country traded more effectively than did France. At the start of the century, Thomas Newcomen invented the steam driven piston for pumping water from mines, and England used this to advance its supremacy in sea trade. London became the hub of this trade, with boats entering and exiting the Thames River constantly. They controlled the market in grain and wool production, and trade with the East Indies brought different spices, tea, and cloth to the island nation. This exchange caused a metamorphosis of British style from heavy fabrics such as wool to more lighter, brighter fabrics. The city of London also traded much with its colonies in North America, until those colonies emancipated themselves from the British crown and placed an embargo on trade with Great Britain.