Exploring the intersection of political history and architectural evolution, this book reveals how the influence of monarchs, the aristocracy, and the church shaped the development of Parisian architecture. It examines various historical periods to illustrate the dynamics between political power and the construction landscape, highlighting the significant role these entities played in determining the pace and volume of building in the city.
Through various stages in history from the Roman to the Medieval, to the Renaissance and the Early Modern and Modern, the book shows how political power of monarchs, the aristocracy and church determined the pace and volume of building development in Paris and the extent of town planning.
Covering the whole period from the seventh century BC to the Second World War, the book clearly shows that the political history of Rome had a major impact on the city's buildings and its planned public spaces.
In this fascinating new history, Paul N Balchin provides a comprehensive account of one of the more formative historical periods, uniquely describing Renaissance architecture as the physical manifestation of political and economic change.