18th Century Trade, Social Estates, and Enlightenment

Trade and the Global Economy in the 18th Century

Mobility was essential for products; transportation and communications throughout the century improved thanks to the construction of roads and canals. The colonial trade and the slave trade: Boats from Britain, Holland, France, Spain, and Portugal traded products manufactured in Europe for raw materials from colonies, which were increasingly necessary for the industries of Europe.

The Triangular Trade and Slave Labor

Triangular Trade: African slaves were brought to America, collected in arduous conditions, and sold there to work in subhuman agricultural conditions. The destination for the plantations of slaves was the Caribbean islands, Brazil, and the British colonies.

Slave trade in Guinea: First, they were cruelly butchered before being sold to Europeans. Secondly, when they were taken to their destination, they were led to believe they would lead a better life and be more comfortable. Thirdly, the work of these slaves benefited both the colonies and the English. These islands have a climate so hot that Black people were considered to have more skills to work the land than white people.

The Estates Society: A System of Inequality

One of the main features of the society of the Old Regime was the unequal civil division into two distinct groups: the privileged and the non-privileged.

The Privileged Classes: Nobility and Clergy

The nobility and clergy were the privileged classes. They possessed much land and were exempt from taxes. The nobility lived on income from land and accumulated large riches. They enjoyed honorary concessions, as well as economic and tax benefits. The clergy also lived on income derived from the exploitation of their land and the heritage of the tithe.

The Non-Privileged: Bourgeoisie and Peasantry

The popular class was the non-privileged sector. It constituted the vast majority of the population (between 90% and 95%). The bourgeoisie included great artisans, traders, and bankers. It was economically the most active group; despite its enrichment, it had no political influence and was marginalized from circles of power.

The urban classes were grouped by manual workers in the cities. The farmers were the largest group of the population. Their living conditions were harsh because they were forced to work the lands of the privileged, to whom they paid high taxes.

Life and Architecture: The Palau Sully

The Palau Sully in Paris features a gallery, a "U" shaped plant or patio, an attic, garden rooms, a gabled roof, an entry for carriages, and a greenhouse.

Fashion of the Nobility

• Nobles: Wig, jacket, breeches, and silk stockings.
• Noblewomen: Ligatures, corset, fringed garments, and fans.

The Enlightenment: A New Intellectual Era

The Enlightenment was a movement of intellectual character developed in Europe in the 18th century that questioned all the principles of the Old Regime. The founders of this movement were two English philosophers: John Locke and Isaac Newton.

Locke criticized absolutism and first proposed the division of powers. With Newton, the scientific method was born, based on the observation and verification of facts. The Enlightenment defended absolute faith in reason as the only means of understanding the world.