French Revolution.

Originally posted by Temujin [but don't forget that before the revolution people were fighting for their king, ...

Apart of course from the Dutch and the Swiss and the Venetians and one side of the English Civil War, and something like half the population of France in the 16th century. And the pre-Imperial Romans, and the Athenians, and....

It seems to me not enough distinction is being made between the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Empire.

The revolution itself put into effect notions of liberty(and equality and fraternity) that already existed: it didn't give birth to them. Nor did it promote nationalism: in fact it was anti-nationalist, and ideological - the early military campaigns of the 1790s were designed to spread that ideology to neighbouring countries.

In both these ways it was really very similar to the Bolshevik revolution. It was also similar in that it was very soon corrupted into a grab for power by a ruling elite, ending with degeneration into tyranny under Napoleon and Stalin.

That said, it seems to me the most concrete example of a long-lasting result of the whole episode is the influence the Code Napoleon continues to have on legal principles and jurisprudence over much of Western Europe (and Louisiana ).

 

 

 

 

I do believe the French Revolution sparked some rather interesting influences,but it did not change European Society more so than any other.Think about the people before them.Spain with its imperialism,Rome with its foundation of a civilized nation,Greece with its democracy,and of course,how can we forget,without the British,there would be no United States.The French can also contribute to the list of the many new ideals that came to mind during that time,and the past.

There is an element of hypocracy around the Napoleonic wars. The ideas of liberty and equality were imposed on the people in French occupied regions. Although, the Frech built strong bureaucracies in Italy and Germany including Piedmont-Sardinia. Europe probably advanced a full century in the amount of time Napoleon was ruler of France. Even if the occupation was seen as repressive and hostile.

What would Europe look like if not for the French Revolution? Also, would you say that the French Revolution never reached its full potential in its day? If not, did the events following it amount to more?

What do you think is the most important legacy of the French Revolution?

The French Revolution transformd European society more so than any other event. Consider that it lead to the formation of modern states in Europe through liberalism, it lead to German and Italian nationalism and likely did the most to spread socialism in Europe. Can anyone think of any other influences? 

I think the French Revolution is one of the most important social and political events in history.  Just imagine if one of the most powerful nations in the world today overthrew its government and eventually went on a 25 year bid for world hegemony.  The world afterwards was so radically different, the Americas got their independence, America was much larger, nationalism came about to affect the course of society ever since, secularization and republican values were brought to the forefront of world politics, and the list goes on and on.  I would say that the French Revolution is just as, if not more important than, the World Wars this century.

I would say that you can't really understand European history to any great extent without having a decent knowledge of the French revolution.

The French Revolution probably changed European society more than any other single event. Without it European may never have become such a prosperous and modern society.

Fact or exaggeration? The French revolution changed the course of history more so than any other single event.