Class and State in Ancien Regime France: The Road to Modernity?

by Parker,David

• ISBN13: 9780415136471
• ISBN10: 0415136474
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1997-02-11
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

Class and State in Early Modern Franceexplores the economic, social, ideolgical and political foundations of French Absolutism. David Parker's challenging interpretation presents French Absolutism as a remarkably successful attempt to preserve the politcal and ideological structures of the traditional order. This arguement rejects the widespread tendency to treat French Absolutism either as an instrument of capitalism or political modernisation. David Parker's reassessment runs contarary to much revisionist historiography. It also discusses a number of contentious issues such as the agrarian foundations of capitalism and the relationship between class and status. It will be of interest to early modern historians of France, Britain and Europe.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. xi
Glossary of French Terms	p. xiv
Introduction	p. 1
Approaches to French Absolutism	p. 6
The French Economy	p. 28
The Roots of Conflict	p. 75
Orders and Classes	p. 111
The Nobility	p. 136
Power, Ideology and the French State	p. 158
France, England and the Capitalist Road	p. 207
Empirical Résumé and Theoretical Afterthoughts	p. 262
Notes	p. 281
Select Bibliography	p. 314
Index	p. 336
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