Economic Transformation Under the Early Bourbons

The early Bourbon period witnessed significant economic changes that provided resources for absolutist ambitions while transforming French society. Despite warfare's disruptions and fiscal pressure, overall economic growth created new wealth that monarchy tapped through innovative mechanisms. The foundations for Colbert's later mercantilism were laid during this period.

Agricultural improvement, begun under Henry IV, continued despite political upheavals. New crops, particularly maize, increased food production. Commercial crops like silk, hemp, and dye plants developed with royal encouragement. Large estates' consolidation through peasant expropriation created more efficient units while generating rural unrest. The growth of Paris and other cities expanded markets for agricultural products.

Proto-industrial development accelerated with royal support. Luxury manufactures—tapestries, mirrors, silk—reduced imports while generating exports. Mining and metallurgy expanded to meet military demands. Shipbuilding, supported by naval programs, created new industries. Royal privileges and monopolies, though stifling competition, encouraged capital investment in selected sectors.

Commercial expansion, both domestic and international, broadened the tax base. Road and canal construction facilitated internal trade. Port development at Brest, Rochefort, and elsewhere supported maritime commerce. Colonial ventures in Canada, Caribbean, and Indian Ocean, though modest compared to later expansion, established French presence in global trade. These developments created merchant wealth that monarchy tapped through various mechanisms.