What were the Sumptuary Laws in France?

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Mansi Saxena answered this

Hi,
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Akhil Singh answered this

During French revolution(1294 to 1789),A law is framed to control the freedom of common people.The social backward and inferiors had to suffer in form of not having the right for wearing clothes,eating food,drinking beverages and hunting games as rich people do.This law is framed to broadens the valley between Rich and Poor.

Anna Mathew answered this

(i) Sumptuary laws (1294 to 1789) were laws which imposed social codes of food and dress upon different strata of society in France.

(ii) These laws were meant to emphasise social hierarchy and control behaviour of those considered 'social inferiors', i.e., the unprivileged.

(iii) They prevented social inferiors from wearing certain clothes and consuming certain foods and beverages associated with the aristocracy. As per these laws only royalty could wear expensive materials like ermine and fur, or silk, velvet and brocade.

(iv) Thus items of clothing a person could buy and use for clothing were regulated not only by income but by social rank.

Samantha answered this

The sumptuary laws in France were aimed at controlling the behaviour of those considered social inferiors.

These laws prevented individuals from the lower stratas from wearing certain clothes, consuming certain foods and beverages,and hunting game in certain areas.

These laws were in existence in France from about 1294 to the time of the French Revolution in 1789.

Among other things, these rules tried to regulate the lifestyles of the lower classes by regulating the amount and type of clothes they bought.

The materials for clothes were also likewise controlled. The lower classes were disallowed from wearing expensive materials that the aristocracy espoused, like ermine, silk, fur, velvet and brocade.