Table of Contents

Introduction - The Monarchy Ascending 1484-1547 - The Church Unchallenged - A Contented Nobility - A Prosperous Third Estate - The Springtime of the French Renaissance - The Monarchy Under Attack 1547-1589 - The Church Challenged - The Nobility in Disarray - A Rebellious Third Estate - The Renaissance in Maturity - The Monarchy Restroed 1589-1614 - The Church Victorious - The Nobility Tamed - The Third Estate in Retreat - The End of the Renaissance - Conclusions

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In this readable history, Baumgartner gives a straightforward account of how feudalism became the early modern era‘unimpeded by a strident agenda (well, maybe a little rehabilitating of Catherine de Medici). Starting with the meeting of the Estates General in 1484 and ending with that of 1614 (the last meeting prior to the Revolution), Baumgartner divides this ``long sixteenth century'' into three chronological sections, each with chapters on the monarchy, church, nobility, common people, judiciary and culture and thought. Although its rigidity leads to some tenuous connections (for example, it's not entirely clear why French colonization is in the section on the people, 1562-1614), it's a generally useful program, showing how the different estates were tied together and how each evolved separately. Despite the bloody wars of religion, the Catholic church that would emerge from the century was similar to that which entered it. The most important change was in the monarchy, which, with the help of client judiciary, evolved from a suzerain with rights and responsibilities to vassals to an absolute monarchy, while the nobility's traditional warrior function was abrogated. Although clearly intended for course adoption, Baumgartner's (Henry II: King of France, 1547-1559) history will help a general audience understand how the moyen âge gave way to the ancien régime. (Dec.)