Question

Based on the description of feudalism given in the lesson, analyze how Napoleon’s new ruling class resembled feudalistic relationships of Louis XVI’s time.

Answer 1

In Louis XVI's time, feudalism was characterized by a hierarchical system where power and resources were concentrated in the hands of a small elite nobility. Similarly, under Napoleon's rule, a new ruling class emerged that resembled the feudalistic relationships of the past.

Napoleon appointed loyal military officers and administrators to positions of power, creating a new aristocracy based on merit and loyalty to him. These individuals were granted privileges and authority over land, resources, and the populace, similar to the feudal lords of the past. This new ruling class owed their positions and wealth to Napoleon, just as the nobility of Louis XVI's time owed their status to the monarch.

Furthermore, like the feudal lords of old, Napoleon's new ruling class exercised control over the common people through taxation, regulation, and military force. They were able to amass wealth and power at the expense of the lower classes, much like the nobility did under feudalism.

Overall, Napoleon's ruling class mirrored the feudalistic relationships of Louis XVI's time in its consolidation of power, concentration of resources, and exploitation of the lower classes. Through these similarities, it can be seen that Napoleon's regime exhibited feudalistic tendencies in its structure and governance.