French Revolution.

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 ).

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....