The Rise and Fall of the Absolute Monarchy - Creating French Culture | Exhibitions
Grand Siècle and Enlightenment (second half of the 17th—end of the 18th centuries) International recognition of French creativity in the arts, literature, and science formed an integral part of Louis XIVs strategy to dominate European culture. Recognizing that political power lay in cultural superiority, and assisted by his minister, Colbert (Controller General of the Finances, 1662–1683), Louis XIV (1643–1715) initiated an all-encom...
Source: loc.gov