Greece, Rome, Feudalism and the French Revolution

Ancient Greece and the Archaic Period

• Greece had a privileged maritime position, as it was located between the Aegean and Mediterranean seas.
• Around 800 BCE, the first stage of Greek history, called the Archaic period, began.
• Philosophy appeared, along with the first artistic forms, the theater, and political reforms.
• In the city of Athens, formal education began at age seven: young people learned to read and write and studied music; they also received physical training. Between ages 18 and 20 they performed military service.
• In Sparta, social classes included: Spartans, Helots, and Perioeci. The Spartans were the dominant ruling group.

Roman Civilization

• The Roman civilization was located on the Italian peninsula.
• Society was formed by the patricians, a minority of wealthy families who owned the land.

Feudalism and Medieval Monarchies

Feudalism arose during the Middle Ages as a social, political, and economic organization based on fiefs, where the feudal lord owned the land.

The vassal was bound to attend when called and swore fidelity to his master.

The first countries that established monarchies were: France, England, Spain, Portugal.

The Enlightenment and Rousseau

Human reason was regarded as the supreme good for the people of the Enlightenment.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau blamed society for having corrupted the natural instincts of man. In his famous book Emile.

The French Revolution and Its Phases

The French Revolution is the sociopolitical process that erupted in France on July 14, 1789, during the reign of Louis XVI.

Social groups: nobility - clergy - rich

• June 17: National Assembly
• Louis XVI: deprives members of the Assembly
• Assembly: Oath of the Tennis Court

National Assembly (1789–1791)

The National Assembly, constituted as the Constituent Assembly, produced the first constitution.

Constitution of 1791

The Constitution of 1791 was based on the following aspects:

• Division of powers
• The principle of national sovereignty
• Decentralized administration
• Civil Constitution of the Clergy
• Category of active citizens

Legislative Assembly (1791–1792)

The Legislative Assembly established very severe laws against opponents of the new regime. Church properties were expropriated. Austria and Prussia decided to intervene militarily in France.

National Convention (1792–1795)

The National Convention proclaimed the republic and executed Louis XVI in 1793. The period included the Reign of Terror led by Maximilien Robespierre.

Directory (1795–1799)

Robespierre was accused of being a dictator, imprisoned, and guillotined. Napoleon Bonaparte emerged after significant military victories. Napoleon carried out the coup d'état of 18 Brumaire, putting an end to the revolutionary period.

Rise of Liberalism and Adam Smith

Liberalism is the political theory of the bourgeoisie that emerged in the nineteenth century.

The first theorist of economic liberalism was Adam Smith.