International Panorama and the Old Regime in the 17th Century
The International Panorama in the 17th Century
The International Panorama (Hegemony) in the 17th century corresponded to the Spanish monarchy, ruled by the house based on the great Austria. Its territorial inheritance was received in Europe by Charles I, and the vast colonial empire in America. This was conquered by France. Since the middle of the 17th century, these conflicts accounted for Spain’s loss of its European possessions and continental hegemony, which went to France.
Colonial Hegemony
Colonial hegemony was exercised during the 16th century by Spain and Portugal. But along the 17th century, both countries lost their commercial hegemony to the United Provinces, Great Britain, and France.
The Political Systems of the Old Regime
The absolute monarchy of divine right was the political system under the previous majority regime. It was considered that the king’s power came from God, thus justifying the monarch’s concentration of the legislative, executive, and judiciary, and economic control, finance, and exercised.
Subjects
They merely passed on taxes requested by the representatives of the king. The nobility, the clergy, and the common people voted, according to their countries: Courts, Parliaments, Diets, or General Statements.
Absolutist Political System
They were more scarce. They were registered in the Republic of the United Provinces and Great Britain.
The Economy of the Former Regime
The economic base of the Old Regime was agriculture.
Agricultural Activities
Agriculture and livestock held more than 80% of the population. Agriculture focused on the cultivation of cereals and was carried out using rudimentary methods (by hand, using animals, or leaving some land fallow).
The Lordships
Extensive domains belonging to kings, nobles, and ecclesiastics. They were mostly worked by laborers or tenants.
Agricultural production activities were conducted in urban workshops controlled by the unions of workers in the same trade. The homework was done at home by farmers for a manufacturing merchant. The manufacturing sizes concentrated a great many craftsmen working for a salary for the state or individuals.
Internal Trade
Internal trade was conducted in urban local markets held weekly, where farm products were traded for handicrafts.
Foreign Trade
Foreign trade focused on major port cities. New territories in colonial America, Asia, and Africa provided commodities and products that yielded large economic benefits.
Mercantilism
Mercantilism considered a country’s wealth resided in the amount of precious metals possessed, and that increase was necessary for state intervention. This was to promote manufacturing nations and protect them from competition, setting tariffs for manufactured imports. The state should also promote trade.
The Society of the Old Regime
The society of the Old Regime had an estamental society. It was divided into two groups to which they belonged by birth: the privileged and the non-privileged.
The Privileged
The privileged were the nobility and clergy. They enjoyed honorable places and favorable economic conditions, such as exclusive access to certain objections, prosecutors, not paying taxes, and the right to be tried in special courts and their own laws.
Non-Privileged Groups
The non-privileged groups made up more than 90% of the population and had no privileges, so they alone carried the obligation to pay taxes.