e that somewhat reduced rates and stimulated domestic commerce. One of Louis' dreams was for France to become as self-sufficient as possible. To help accomplish this Colbert arranged for the immigration of skilled workers. Through government subsidies, he established new industries in fields where there had previously been little production. Colbert also closely regulated the quality and size of many goods through craft guilds. Louis XIV desire was that French goods would have a reputation for high and uniform quality that both Frenchmen and foreigners would prefer French goods over all others. In this Louis failed because of artisan and consumer resistance to the standardization of goods. Louis and Colbert also tried to improve agricultural production and forestry. Inspite of Colbert's efforts, Louis failed to raise the level of the French economy. The government's excessive control stifled initiative in business and created an unmanageable bureaucracy. MilitaryIn order to accomplish his goals, Louis created the finest war machine in Europe. No one country could challenge the military power of France in size, training, or weapons. The French army had over 100,000 members during times of peace and was expanded to over 400,000 during wartime. Of course, the army was directly under royal command. Colbert added more than 100 warships to the French navy. Colbert's navy might have given France supremacy over the seas, but after Colbert's death Louis cut the budget of the navy, allowing England to rule the seas.EnlightenmentThe scientific breakthroughs made by scholars during the late 17th century established a new interpretation of the physical universe. Natural scientists discovered the laws that govern physical matter. Their findings laid the foundation for the great intellectual movement of the eighteenth century that is known as the Enlightenment. The geniuses of this period believed that there were also universal natural laws t...
