| France in the Seventeenth Century | |||||||||||||||
| POPULATION 1600 - 20 million 1700 - 22 million MONARCHS KEY EVENTS CULTURE |
During the sixteenth century, France had been torn apart by religious war between Protestants and Catholics, and ravaged by Spanish invasion. In 1598, France made peace with Spain and granted toleration to its Protestant minority. France grew increasingly prosperous and powerful until by the end of the seventeenth century, it was the strongest country in Europe. Its splendid royal court provided the model for all European royalty, and its culture - in particular its drama - set the standards for educated gentlemen. René Descartes launched a new wave of modern systematic philosophy in his Discourse on Method (1637). French Baroque art reached great heights. The expansionist policies of Louis XIV provoked a reaction from neighboring countries. The last decade of the seventeenth century saw the Dutch, English and a number of German states ally to resist French domination. In 1685 Louis ended the toleration granted to Protestants, and thousands of skilled and industrious Huguenots fled abroad. The seeds of French decline were sown even as it reached the pinnacle of its power.
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