Globalization In The 18th Century Essay

During the height of the Middle Ages, Europe was shaped by a “demographic revolution” (Schulze, 1996, p.9). Helped by economic growth, France enlarged its population to 19 million inhabitants. Price examined this demographic and economic growth as the beginning of 35.000 communities (1993, p.16). Other consequences of this growth were the emergence of cities, the rise of commerce and improved communication. The rise of commerce led to the creation of a new social class: the bourgeoisie. The emergence of cities made this new social class wealthier and independent with their own administration. Price declared that their cities were “capable of assuming control over broader territories, and of mobilizing their economic and human resources”. (1993, p.12). The new cities marked the process of state building by their ability to function. Furthermore, they became a new player in the political power structure.
The development of France into a sovereign state was marked by the conquest of Normandy (1204). This event led to the unification of France due to the submission of one third of the cities under royal control. Until the second half of the eighteenth century, the royal legislative power remained limited. Indeed, the king was obliged to …show more content…
It started with the Hundred Years’ War, which played an important role in the process of state-building in France. The Hundred Years’ War was a conflict between the Kingdoms of France and England in the late Middle Ages. It began in 1337 when the King of England claimed the crown of France and ended in 1453 with French victory. It lasted more than a century but was interrupted by periods of peace. The conflict was divided into two periods in which the throne of France was under English rule. France suffered many defeats before experiencing victory led by Joan of Arc, who was burned at the stake in 1431 in