Question

why were common people hungry and impoverished at the beginning of louis xiv’s reign?
how did louis xiv distract the elites?

Explanation:

1. Before Louis XIV's reign, France faced costly wars (like the Thirty Years' War) that drained resources. Nobles and the Church were exempt from taxes, so the burden fell entirely on peasants, who also suffered from frequent bad harvests that caused food shortages. Feudal systems kept peasants tied to land with little ability to improve their situation.
2. Louis XIV centralized power by bringing elites to Versailles. By making court life the center of social and political status, he occupied their time with trivial, symbolic tasks and luxury, preventing them from organizing against his authority and ensuring their loyalty depended on his goodwill.

Answer:

1. Common people were hungry and impoverished due to decades of war, high taxation, poor harvests, and feudal exploitation.
2. Louis XIV distracted elites by inviting them to live in the Palace of Versailles, hosting lavish entertainment, and involving them in elaborate court rituals and ceremonies that tied their status to his favor.