Do you think the reason Napoleon considered England a "nation of shop-keepers" is down to economics?

Question

England and France have similar populations (probably quite close in the early 19th century too) but France has twice the area. Also, France has a far higher % of her GDP dedicated to agricultural goods. As a result, if you think about it, large markets which draw in people from a huge area (largely devoid of shops) are more likely to be popular in France; and shops which produce tertiary (manufactured) products, and which can depend on their densely-populated surroundings, are more likely to occur in England. Right?

Answer 1

I don't think he meant it to be analysed literally. I think he meant petty-minded, penny-counting, short-sighted. In contrast to the image of the French as cultured, refined, interested in the meaning of life. Ask anyone in Europe who is not British or French how many British and how many French composers (classical music), painters, great novelsits or philosophers they could name and the French will win as fast as Australians win cricket matches.

It was showing politically in his time in the way Britain collected colonies: "trade follows the flag". Britain was not militaristic and imperialist like France, and she did in 1810 already generate about a third of the world's GDP. Britain was simply more money-minded, less visionary than France. Napoleon had a dream -- a united Europe, a universal Napoleonic law -- he was a visionary with a moral crusade. The Brits simply couldn't relate to that. It all goes back to the way the bards and fine song and poetry disappeared when English kings took over the Celtic kingdoms of Britain in the 500s and 600s AD. The Saxon ruling class were culturally pirates i.e. destroyers. Whereas when the Merovingians took over France they kept the Latin-educated Gaulish cultural elite.

Answer 2

Napoleon was an ambitious militarist zealott and conquerer
bent upon building a consolidated European empire .English naval might across the oceans and huge economical prowess drawn from its sprawling colonial trade was a constant road block foiling his grand designs. Psychological and cultural jingoism between France and England-forming the historical backdrop - had been fuelled by French frustration in the front of colonial trade, coupled with his personal failure to destroy the Islanders' territorial invicibility assumed a perverted and contemptuous mindset in Napoleon to remark the English as a nation of shopkeepers.He seemed to be a poor student of International economic patterns to try his infamous economic blockade against England. Similarly , his shallow understanding of geographical implications and the phenomenal strength of cultural resillience of Spaniards' were evident , during his mis- adventurous grand Moscow expedition and the Spanish invasion respectively.Trying to bite more than he could chew he might have had to curse the one particular bone of discontent staying stuck down his swallowing throat line.

Answer 3

At that time, Napoleon did not understand the concept of distribution channels. Shop keepers play the role of distributors paying for farm produce upfront( usually ) and bringing it to others who are not near the farms, like in industrial England.
In the process, the shopkeepers make a living, the farmers got paid for their harvests in time so that they can focus on next year crops and the cycle continue.
Others concepts also come in like division of labour, specialisation etc.

Answer 4

more likely the french love to close early,insist on bank holidays every other week and this state of affairs does not encourage a work ethic...seriously could you see the french having a 24hr tesco?

Answer 5

NAPOLEAN WAS FRUSTRATED WITH THE BRITISH AS A NATION . MORE THAN ECONOMICS IT WAS HIS APPARENT CONTEMPT FOR THE THE ENGLISH NATION THAT MADE HIM COMMENT SO - MAYBE HE WANTED TO IMPLY THAT THE ENGLISH WERE STANDING UP TO HIM BECAUSE THEY COULD BUY ALLIES(!!) - A TRULY FUNNY BUT NOT QUITE PLAIN ECONOMIC LOGIC.

Answer 6

I think it was because he was to short to see the mega-mall.