HIS 322 - The French Revolution and Napoleon, 1789-1815

3 credits
The French Revolution represents one of the greatest transformative periods in modern history. This course studies the origins of the revolution in European thought, society, and politics, and then traces its moderate beginnings, its turn toward radicalism in the Reign of Terror, and its international impacts. We then turn to a detailed study of Napoleon Bonaparte as a military dictator, consolidator of the revolution, and conqueror. Finally, the course concludes with Napoleon’s defeat and the effort to put the pieces of Europe back together after over twenty years of revolution, upheaval, and war.