AtoZchallenge 2024

A contribution to the #AtoZchallenge 2024 This post explores the “Zeitgeist” or Spirit of the Age in 17th century France, a time that heralded the Age of Enlightenment. It touches on the social and intellectual ambiance, as well as certain political and religious developments. Conflicts 17th-century France saw the consolidation of King Louis XIV‘s concept…

A contribution to the #AtoZchallenge 2024 Religious conflicts have plagued societies throughout history, causing immense suffering, division, and loss of life. In this blog post, I explore the root causes of religious conflicts and propose potential solutions, drawing on historical examples from 17th-century France and contemporary cases. Why do religious conflicts occur? Many are the…

A contribution to the #AtoZchallenge 2024 Flight by sea Whatever the reason people leave their country to seek a new home, the decision is never easy. Often they have suffered physically under some harsh regime or hostile neighbours. They may have had to abandon their possessions or even family members they would have wished to…

A contribution to the #AtoZchallenge 2024 King William III of England, also known as William of Orange, was a significant figure in European history during the late 17th century. Early Life and Background In the Early Modern Period and well into the 19th century, marriages among members of the upper echelons of European society was…

A contribution to the #AtoZchallenge 2024 The Palace of Versailles Starting in 1661, Louis XIV took several decades to transform a royal hunting lodge in Versailles into one of the most magnificent palaces in Europe. Following his whims, renowned architects designed, renovated and expanded the vast and ornate complex of buildings in the French Baroque…

A contribution to the #AtoZchallenge 2024 History and geography The United Provinces of the Netherlands grew out of the 1579 Union of Utrecht. The seven northern regions that won independence from Spain from 1568 to 1609 formed an alliance, also known as the Dutch Republic. The area comprised approximately that of the present Kingdom of the…

A contribution to the #AtoZchallenge 2024 Fishing trade The term terreneuviers (Newfoundlanders) refers to Jersey fishermen who participated in the Newfoundland fishery during the 16th to 19th centuries. Jersey, one of the Channel Islands located between England and France, had a long tradition of fishing, and the Newfoundland fishery provided valuable opportunities for Jersey fishermen…

A contribution to the #AtoZchallenge 2024 Les précieuses In 17th century Paris, a group of intellectual, witty women known as les précieuses developed a culture of lively conversations and playful word games. These gatherings were frequently held in a lady’s bedroom, referred to as a salon. The lady, reclining on her bed, would receive close friends…

A contribution to the #AtoZchallenge 2024 Background After the Wars of Religion, and as Protestants in many parts of France were deliberately terrorised and pressurised to abjure their faith, many tried desperately to escape. Le refuge About 200,000 Huguenots settled in non-Catholic Europe: the United Provinces (Netherlands), Germany, especially Prussia, Switzerland, Scandinavia; and even as…

A contribution to the #AtoZchallenge 2024 Imagine being married to a double first cousin as a peace offering. King Philip IV of Spain accepted his prime ministerial proposal that his daughter, the devout Maria Theresa, should marry the son of his sister, Queen Anne of Austria, namely the flamboyant King Louis XIV of France. The…