Western Civilization II / Unit 1 WC2 0010 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Academies, the Dictionary, and French as the Language of Diplomacy
Captions available
The idea
Louis paid theater companies, founded the first state scientific academy, and had the Académie Française, Richelieu's creation, produce the first official dictionary. Under him French became the language of international diplomacy and of a shared aristocratic culture.
In practice
The witness dates the Academy of Sciences to sixteen sixty-six, well funded and tightly controlled.
Where people slip
Cultural show was power, the anchor says, not a sideline.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Something wrong in this lesson? Flag it