The causes of the French Revolution are complex and are still debated among historians. Following the Seven Years' War and the American Revolution, the French government was deeply in debt. It attempted to restore its financial status through unpopular taxation schemes, which were heavily regressive. Leading up to the Revolution, years of bad harvests worsened by deregulation of the grain industry also inflamed popular resentment of the privileges enjoyed by the aristocracy and the Catholic clergy of the established church.
The factor that helped both areas become so socially diverse, technologically advanced and wealthy was their central location. From their shores or land borders they could easily reach almost any country in the AfroEurasian continents. Also India, and somewhat China were very interested in outside cultures and embraced them with open arms.
Hunter-gathering tribes
small towns and nomadic groups
city-states and small kingdoms
empires
nation-states
I would say government and rights of the public to decide whether we should war or not.
There were many ideas that Rousseau and Voltaire gave the french people, but perhaps the most important was the idea of liberty and freedom from tyranny.