MENU: 2.6. The Old Regime replies to challenge
TOWARD 1500, EXPORERS' DISCOVERIES LEAD TO NEW SOURCES OF INCOME AND SO TO A BOOM THAT UNDERMINES THE SOCIAL SYSTEM
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Discoveries in 1502 /zoom |
The earliest known map of the Age of Discovery
Nobles — hereditary landowners who make up the ruling class — are a warrior caste that draws its wealth from peasant labor. They cannot adapt to the budding capitalist society.
Portrait of a Knight in Armor, end 16th century / zoom
The baton indicates command and the curtain underscores grandeur.
Its members wear armor for their portraits (for more examples, please click here, here and here). Their martial education and values of personal honor and loyalty to overlord or king are irrelevant to commerce.
As well, they lose their legal privileges should they engage in "trade," for which in any case they usually lack the capital (explained here).
The conflict breaks out
with the French Revolution.
But for three centuries
nobles' domination of daily life
leads all classes internalize
the rank-based order.
Here's how it worked.
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