17Th 18Th Century France and Its Peoples

SS9 – Crossroads

- FrnchRv1

17th – 18th Century France and its Peoples

The French Revolution is still referred to today as an example of how far people will go to achieve political and social freedom.

France is one of the largest European countries and is bordered by the English Channel to the North, the Bay of Biscay and the Atlantic Ocean to the West and by the Mediterranean to the South.

French Society in the 17th C. was still very much like a feudal society. A very small portion of the population owned the majority of the land and wealth while the largest portion of the population lived a hard, poor life.

Paris was the country’s largest city and was home to every class of French society, from the wealthy Aristocrats, the Bourgeoisie or middle class businessmen, to the poor Peasants.

Paris was a very expensive city to live in. Inflation caused such staples as flour to become so expensive that people were soon spending over half of their income on food.

The government, which was headed by the extravagant King Louis XIV, cared little and did almost nothing to develop the economy of France.

As a result, Paris and France lacked decent roads, canals and other means of communications and travel or Infrastructure that would have helped everyone.

SS9 – Crossroads

- FrnchRv1

17th Century France and its Peoples

Directions: Read pages 56-61 in your text Crossroads – A Meeting of Nations.

1. On a separate piece of paper, provide definitions for the following terms;

Absolute Monarchy Democracy Tithe

Inference Monopoly Infrastructure

2. On a separate piece of paper, answer the following questions using COMPLETE SENTENCES;

a) Describe the geography of France (be sure to mention what types of crops can be grown there and why). (2 mks for quality of answer)

b) Describe the life of a 17th C. French Peasant. (2 mks for quality of answer)

c) Describe the inhabitants of Paris. (2 mks for quality of answer)

d) Describe two ways that made it difficult for the Bourgeoisie to make a profitable living (be sure to include examples). (2 mks for quality of answer)

3. On the page opposite, color and label the attached map of France

(use the map found on page 110 of your text as a reference)

You will be marked out of 10 for your inclusion of all labels and out of 5 for neatness and quality of work for a total of 15 marks.

Total _____/ 29

3. Color and label the following map of France. (10 mks for labels + 5 marks for neatness = 15 mks)

English Channel Bay of Biscay Mediterranean Sea

Spain Confederation of the Rhine (Germany)

Paris Nantes Marseille

Bordeaux Toulouse