Time and the French Revolution 1789 - year XIV
This thesis examines the origin and consequences of the French Republican calendar in relation to eighteenth-century temporality. It assesses the extent of the calendar's use, examines the cultural and political meanings that it assumed, and argues that the temporal order of society can be equally as important as its spatial organisation. It suggests that calendars are not purely neutral measures of time, but are cultural, social and political texts that can express the central beliefs of a society. As the history of the Republican calendar shows, such beliefs could be highly contestable. Unsurprisingly, the demands of a ten-day week, new nomenclature, and the calendar's association with the Terror did not lend the new style of time reckoning much popularity, except amongst confirmed Jacobins. Yet, successive regimes, in particular the post-Fructidor Directory, did attempt to ensure conformity to the new calendar. In many parts of France the calendar became a site of cultural, political and, indeed, physical conflict as local communities and officials fought over observance of the new Republican day of rest, the deÌcadi. The speed of political events and the dramatic changes in French society, coupled with
Shaw, Matthew John
Republican; Jacobin; Napoleon
Time and the French Revolution 1789 - year XIV. This thesis examines the origin and consequences of the French Republican calendar in relation to eighteenth-century temporality. It assesses the extent of the calendar's use, examines the cultural and political meanings that it assumed, and argues that the temporal order of society can be equally as important as its spatial organisation. It suggests that calendars are not purely neutral measures of time, but are cultural, social and political texts that can express the central beliefs of a society. As the history of the Republican calendar shows, such beliefs could be highly contestable. Unsurprisingly, the demands of a ten-day week, new nomenclature, and the calendar's association with the Terror did not lend the new style of time reckoning much popularity, except amongst confirmed Jacobins. Yet, successive regimes, in particular the post-Fructidor Directory, did attempt to ensure conformity to the new calendar. In many parts of France the calendar became a site of cultural, political and, indeed, physical conflict as local communities and officials fought over observance of the new Republican day of rest, the deÌcadi. The speed of political events and the dramatic changes in French society, coupled with
time french_revolution examine origin consequence french republican calendar relation eighteenth_century temporality ass extent calendar use examines cultural_political meaning assume argue temporal_order society equally_important spatial_organisation suggests calendar purely neutral measure time cultural social_political text express central belief society history republican calendar show belief could highly contestable demand new nomenclature calendar association terror lend new_style time much popularity except amongst confirm yet successive regime particular post directory attempt ensure conformity new calendar many part france calendar become site cultural_political indeed physical conflict local_community official fight observance new republican day rest speed political_event dramatic_change french society couple