Old Mode

The Ancien Mode is the period of the French history which goes from the end of the Moyen-âge to the French revolution (). This period is also named Modern time or modern Time .

Usual significances

The term mode refers here to the political regime , i.e. at the institutions of the State, the type of Gouvernement (in this case, with the Monarchie). In a certain manner, it is as of Monarchie as it will act when, after the Revolution and the Empire, intervenes the Restauration.

Even if the expression were well of use before the publication of its work, it is Alexis de Tocqueville which contributes to fix the contents of the term “old mode” in a test entitled precisely the old mode and the Revolution (1856).

It tries there a description of the absolute monarchy which it opposes in particular to the medieval Société. The formula “the French revolution baptized what it abolished” is allotted to Tocqueville. It underlines the fact that the expression carries in it a retrospective vision of the period that it names. This vision will durably structure the manner of considering the Absolutisme French with. She will be discussed in particular by the historian François Furet.

The American historian Arno Mayer for its part will insist on the “persistence of the Old Mode” in a test éponyme. He estimates indeed that, for whole Europe, the 19th century and the first years of the 20th century fall under the continuity of the old mode. He raises the indices of this continuity at the same time in the political arena and the economic domain.

The historian economist Ernest Labrousse will be able to speak about “old economic mode” to indicate the economic structures which prevailed in France under the absolute monarchy.

See too

Internal bonds

External bonds

Summary bibliography

  • Tocqueville Alexis of, the old mode and the Revolution , Gallimard, 1967 (1856 first edition).
  • Goubert (Pierre), the Old Mode , Paris, Armand Colin, Collection U. Volume I, the company (1969); volume II, the capacities (1973).
  • Pipe cleaner François and Ozouf Jacques, To think the French revolution , Gallimard, 1978.
  • Pipe cleaner Francois, the Revolution discusses it , Gallimard, 1999 (collection of articles).
  • Mayer Arno, the persistence of the Old Mode - Europe of 1848 in the Great War , Flammarion, 1983 (first English edition 1981).
  • Joel Cornet, " the assertion of the absolute State "

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