Common People Under Louis Xiv's Rule: An Absolute Monarchy
Sam Jones
Mr. Johnson
Social Studies
13 July 2011 Life of the Common People under Louis XIV’s Rule An Absolute Monarchy was a new concept to the people of France during the 1600’s. Other forms of government were failing from lack of control, so the people of France turned to an Absolute Monarch, named Louis XIV. The only problem with Louis was that he was self-centered, and did not care a whole lot about governing his kingdom. He was more concerned with making himself looking good, and even went as far to call himself the “Sun God.” As a result, the French common people lived very rough lives, due to the neglect of their king. It was not an easy life for the French people under King Louis XIV’s rule, and it was not made better by his view on governing. This is shown through his lack of genuine care for his people, over taxation, and wars of the time. City life was very harsh on people, and this is shown by the fact that King Louis XIV himself did not live in the city. The people of Paris were starving because of a war happening; all of the food is going to the troops. Louis handles this problem by showing his generous heart, and giving the people spoiled food to …show more content…
This caused many people who did not want to fight, be forced to join in wars they didn’t believe in. King Louis would even go as far as to send women’s loved ones into combat, just so when they died their inevitable death, he could have their significant other. Also, wars caused even more poverty for the people of France. In an instance where a woman’s husband was killed in combat, the wife would be left to supply their family with food. The social status of women at the time was very low, so it would be very hard for any woman to find a well paying job, causing even more starvation. This is the kind of environment the people of France lived in, and it was not an easy
Mr. Johnson
Social Studies
13 July 2011 Life of the Common People under Louis XIV’s Rule An Absolute Monarchy was a new concept to the people of France during the 1600’s. Other forms of government were failing from lack of control, so the people of France turned to an Absolute Monarch, named Louis XIV. The only problem with Louis was that he was self-centered, and did not care a whole lot about governing his kingdom. He was more concerned with making himself looking good, and even went as far to call himself the “Sun God.” As a result, the French common people lived very rough lives, due to the neglect of their king. It was not an easy life for the French people under King Louis XIV’s rule, and it was not made better by his view on governing. This is shown through his lack of genuine care for his people, over taxation, and wars of the time. City life was very harsh on people, and this is shown by the fact that King Louis XIV himself did not live in the city. The people of Paris were starving because of a war happening; all of the food is going to the troops. Louis handles this problem by showing his generous heart, and giving the people spoiled food to …show more content…
This caused many people who did not want to fight, be forced to join in wars they didn’t believe in. King Louis would even go as far as to send women’s loved ones into combat, just so when they died their inevitable death, he could have their significant other. Also, wars caused even more poverty for the people of France. In an instance where a woman’s husband was killed in combat, the wife would be left to supply their family with food. The social status of women at the time was very low, so it would be very hard for any woman to find a well paying job, causing even more starvation. This is the kind of environment the people of France lived in, and it was not an easy