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Culture Documents
French revolution started in 1789. The series of events started by the middle class shaken
the upper classes. The people revolted against the cruel regime of monarchy.
This revolution put forward the ideas of liberty, fraternity, and equality.
• The revolution began on 14th July, 1789 with the storming of the fortress-prison, the
Bastille.
→The Bastille, the fortress prison was hated by all, because it stood for the despotic power
of the king.
→ The fortress was demolished.
Keywords
• Livre – Unit of currency in France which was discontinued in 1794
• Clergy – Group of persons invested with special functions in the church
• Tithe – A tax levied by the church, comprising one-tenth of the agricultural produce
• Taille – Tax to be paid directly to the state.
• Old Regime - Used to describe the society and institutions of France before 1789.
• Bastille – A fortress-prison in the Paris which stood for the despotic power of the king.
• Nobility - Group of persons of high rank in state administration
• Aristocracy - A form of government in which power is held by the nobility.
• Democracy – A form of government in which power is in the hands of the people, who rule
either directly or through freely elected representatives.
• Constitutional Monarchy – A form of government in which a country is ruled by a king and
queen whose power is limited by a constitution.
• Subsistence Crisis - An extreme situation where the basic means of livelihood are
endangered.
• Estates General - A political body to which the three estates sent their representatives.
• Manor – An estate consisting of the lord’s lands and his mansion.
• Chateau – Castle or stately residence belonging to a king or a nobleman.
• National Assembly – An Assembly formed by the representatives of the Third Estate of the
Estates General.
• Convent – Building belonging to a community devoted to a religious life.
• Parisians – People who live in Paris.
• Treason – Betrayal of one’s country or government
• Convention - The newly elected assembly formed after National Assembly.
• Guillotine - A device consisting of two poles and a blade with which a person is beheaded.
• Reign of Terror - The period from 1793 to 1794 when Robespierre followed a policy of
severe control and punishment.
• Jacobin Club – A political club formed during French revolution whose members belonged
mainly to the less prosperous sections of society.
• Negroes – A term used for the indigenous people of Africa south of the Sahara.
• Emancipation – The act of freeing.
• Feudalism – A social system in which crown give lands to the nobility who fought for him
while the peasants were obliged to live on their lord's land and give him homage and labour.