The 1789 French Revolution: not just a revolution in France

HA short course 

The French Revolution of 1789 was not just a turning point in French history – it was a seismic event that reshaped the political landscape of Europe and reverberated across the globe. Its immediate and long-term consequences challenged monarchies and empires, inspired emerging republics, and ignited debates that continue to shape modern political thought. 

But what truly sparked the revolution – political discontent, economic hardship, or both? Did the revolutionaries achieve their goals, or were their ambitions only partially realised? How did the revolution affect France’s military and imperial ambitions? And crucially, why does this revolution still matter today?

In this new short course we’ll explore these questions and more through a series of thought-provoking lectures and discussions led by leading historians and experts in the field.

Topics include: The Ancien Régime and its collapse; social revolution; the monarchy; popular radicalism; The Republic; The army and the French Revolution; The legacy of the revolutionary wars; 1789: A global revolution and a final session on the French Revolution and Democracy