The 74-gun ship within its historical context

Before the period of interest, geographic discoveries had been increasing thanks to the opening of new maritime routes, a state of things that spurred the European countries concerned to acquire the most profit from colonization and commerce.

The construction of merchant ships then expanded in a considerable manner and consequently, rivalries between the principal powers heated up constantly. The increase in maritime exchanges and in conflicts required the kind of domination of the oceans which could only be achieved with vessels specially designed for naval combat. Thus warships that became bigger and bigger made up the large fleets of the 18th Century. The objective of this domination of the oceans was not only to destroy the enemy's warships but also to seize the rich cargoes transported by his merchant ships and it could also, as in the case of England, result in blocades that could be threatening for the economy of the country concerned .

Whereas in the 17th Century, naval conflicts occurred mostly within European waters (Mediterranean, Atlantic coast and Baltic Sea), in the 18th Century they became generalized to all the oceans of the globe. Just as in the period between 1640 and 1680, between 1688 and 1721 France had to face England, Spain and Holland in a more or less permanent manner. The second half of the 18th Century would be just as troubled, especially as the struggles that lead to American independence began to develop. It was necessary to wait until the crushing defeat of the French fleet at Trafalgar on 21 October 1805 and the end of the First Empire on 18 June 1815 at Waterloo to enter a more quiet era : French naval power was then considerably reduced and a gigantic reconstruction effort had to be undertaken.