Description
How did the French monarch, from the throne that was once the paragon of European absolutism, fall victim to the intense animosity and brutal “justice” of his own subjects? Why did a seemingly stable state descent into a revolution so violent, abrupt and powerful as to revoke the authority of the Catholic Church, abolish traditional titles and privileges and dramatically reconfigure centuries-old social, political and economic structures? How did the revolution in France affect its contemporary world? Why did the Reign of Terror remove so many of France’s most important and well-coiffed heads? Was Napoleon a villain or a hero? Did the revolution succeed? Sacre bleu! This course will examine the motives, players, stages, objectives, key events and major outcomes associated with the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Era. Please join us in uncovering the intrigue, tragedy, passion and progress of this exciting but tumultuous period.