Gates of Gold

Then and Now: France

Discusses a girl’s life in 1711 France. Topics include:

• The life and reign of Louis XIV, the “Sun King,” and where he lived
  • He was one of Europe’s most powerful rulers
  • He built and ruled from the palace of Versailles
• What King Louis XIV would have worn
  • He wore the biggest and curliest wigs, rarest jewels, and delicate lace
  • He favored shoes with high, red heels that showed off the shape of his legs
• Activities the royal court took part in
• What a court member would have worn
• What peasants wore and how they lived
• Peasants were taxed heavily by the king to pay for his lavish lifestyle, even during famines
• Schooling for peasants by the Catholic church
  • Few peasants knew how to read or write before school became mandatory in 1698
• Life in France today