The French Revolution and the Age of Napoleon

Over two centuries later, the French Revolution still has its impacts on the political and revolutionary happenings of the decade. During the Revolution, institution, attitudes, and ideas, which had arisen in the course of centuries, were jettisoned and rapidly modified. Within a period of a few months, France found new strength and a revolutionary enthusiasm so great that the French armies were able to withstand and overcome the military opposition of nearly all Europe. Unarguably the greatest revolution until 1917, the French Revolution has remained a manual for revolutionaries the world over. This work analyses the causes of the French Revolution. It critically discusses the development of events in the revolution: from National Assembly to the Directory, the Reign of Terror, and the Thermidorean reaction. It also examines the Age of Napoleon and his Grand Empire. The later part of this work highlights the impacts of the French Revolution and the Age of Napoleon and concludes that this Revolution has remained a model for other revolutions and has led to the evolution of international system.