Living the French Revolution and the Age of Napoleon

Watch Living the French Revolution and the Age of Napoleon

  • 2013
  • 1 Season

Living the French Revolution and the Age of Napoleon from The Great Courses is an engaging and informative examination of the dramatic political and social upheavals that occurred in France during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Presented by esteemed historian Suzanne M. Desan, this 48-lecture course provides a comprehensive overview of the French Revolution and the subsequent rise of Napoleon Bonaparte as the most powerful leader in Europe.

The course is structured chronologically, beginning with a discussion of the political and social conditions that led to the outbreak of the revolution in 1789. Professor Desan provides detailed explanations of the various events and ideologies that contributed to the revolution, including the Enlightenment, the American Revolution, and the rise of radical political factions.

Throughout the course, Professor Desan emphasizes the importance of understanding the lived experience of those who participated in the revolution. She examines the ways in which ordinary French citizens were affected by the political and social upheaval of the time, and she provides insights into the ways in which ordinary people responded to these challenges.

In addition to her focus on the experiences of ordinary citizens, Professor Desan also explores the role of key historical figures in shaping the course of the revolution. She provides detailed analyses of the ideologies and actions of figures such as Maximilien Robespierre, Georges Danton, and Napoleon Bonaparte, and she provides insights into their motivations and personal lives.

Throughout the course, Professor Desan makes extensive use of primary source materials, including speeches, memoirs, and other contemporary accounts. This provides students with an opportunity to engage with the historical record directly, and to gain a deeper understanding of the events and ideas that shaped this transformative period in world history.

One of the strengths of Living the French Revolution and the Age of Napoleon from The Great Courses is the way in which Professor Desan contextualizes the events of the period within a broader historical framework. She discusses the ways in which the French Revolution influenced other revolutionary movements around the world, and she explores the ways in which the political and social changes that occurred during this time continue to shape French society today.

The course is extremely well-produced, with high-quality video and audio that makes it easy to follow along with Professor Desan's lectures. The lectures themselves are engaging and thought-provoking, and they are supplemented by detailed course notes and additional reading materials that provide students with a wealth of additional information and context.

Overall, Living the French Revolution and the Age of Napoleon from The Great Courses is an excellent introduction to one of the most important periods in world history. Professor Desan's expertise and engaging teaching style make this course a must-watch for anyone interested in understanding the roots of modern democracy, the impact of revolutionary movements, and the dynamic world of 18th and 19th-century Europe.

Living the French Revolution and the Age of Napoleon is a series that is currently running and has 1 seasons (48 episodes). The series first aired on May 31, 2013.

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Seasons
Revolutionary Legacies
48. Revolutionary Legacies
May 31, 2013
In this concluding lecture, you'll look at how the ideas, symbols, and practices of the Revolution had far-ranging consequences that are still being debated today. From the European uprisings of 1848 to the civil rights issues of the 20th and 21st centuries, the questions raised by the French Revolution are still being asked.
Emerging Political Models
47. Emerging Political Models
May 31, 2013
Take a look at the politics of France after Napoleon. The nation had changed too much over the preceding 25 years to simply return to a stable monarchy. See the emergence of competing political models of conservatism, liberalism, and Bonapartism during the Bourbon Restoration of King Louis XVIII.
Waterloo and Beyond
46. Waterloo and Beyond
May 31, 2013
Against all odds, Napoleon struggled to hang onto power, but in the spring of 1815, all the major European powers had declared war against him. He needed one great victory to secure his reign, but the Battle of Waterloo became his final undoing and reverberated for years to come.
Napoleon?s Fall and the Hundred Days
45. Napoleon?s Fall and the Hundred Days
May 31, 2013
Experience the drama that followed the disastrous Russian campaign, where several European nations formed an alliance against France and forced Napoleon into exile. But in a surprising turn of events, he escaped the island of Elba and regained control of France without firing a single shot.
The Russian Campaign
44. The Russian Campaign
May 31, 2013
Follow Napoleon's harrowing march across Russia in 1812, and witness his doomed campaign from the viewpoint of his soldiers. Napoleon's fateful decision to invade Russia marked a turning point for his empire.
Living under the Empire
43. Living under the Empire
May 31, 2013
Was Napoleon a modernizer who brought efficient and liberal reforms throughout his European empire, or was he a cultural imperialist who tried to export his vision of a centralized, authoritarian state? Historians debate this even today, and this lecture shows you each side of the Napoleonic legacy.
France during the Empire
42. France during the Empire
May 31, 2013
Perhaps because Napoleon rose to power so unexpectedly, his legitimacy was always fragile. Survey the ways in which he built his own glory by transforming Paris and creating a new nobility. Then see how, needing an heir, he divorced Josephine.
Expanding the Empire
41. Expanding the Empire
May 31, 2013
From 1806 to 1808, Napoleon pushed his empire beyond the limits of what he could actually rule, from Poland to Spain. Take a closer look at his military strategy as he reached the pinnacle of his power. He concentrated his forces for decisive victories in the Battle of Jena-Auerstädt, and he hammered out a peace with Tsar Alexander of Russia.
Taking on the Great Powers
40. Taking on the Great Powers
May 31, 2013
While Napoleon's ambitions in the Americas had been thwarted, he was ready in 1805 to take on the great powers of Europe. Go inside the Grande Armée and learn about Napoleon's corps system. Then take a look at several key battles, including Trafalgar at sea and the Battle of Austerlitz.
Napoleon?s Ambitions in the New World
39. Napoleon?s Ambitions in the New World
May 31, 2013
In 1803, despite Napoleon's colonial ambitions, France sold 800,000 square miles of the Louisiana territory to the United States. Find out why by considering the international situation, especially Napoleon's attempt to re-establish slavery and the loss of Haiti after the slave revolt.
Napoleon Becomes Emperor
38. Napoleon Becomes Emperor
May 31, 2013
As his power grew, Napoleon's ties to the Revolution shifted. He spoke of the "nation" rather than the "republic," and he became more formal and remote. After a failed plot against his life, he declared himself emperor. Despite this shocking seizure of power, he built on some of the Revolution's better achievements.
Building Power?General and First Consul
37. Building Power?General and First Consul
May 31, 2013
Trace the early years of Napoleon's rule and see how he built his power step by step. At war, he maneuvered boldly against the Austrians and had an uncanny ability to make peace. At home, he combined repression with conciliation to secure his power, and in 1802 he was elected First Consul for life.
Bonaparte Seizes Power
36. Bonaparte Seizes Power
May 31, 2013
How did Napoleon seize power in France in 1799? Tensions were high between the royalists and the neo-Jacobins, and in this climate of crisis, Napoleon led a military coup and drew up yet another constitution for France, bringing the Revolution to an end.
Bonaparte in Egypt
35. Bonaparte in Egypt
May 31, 2013
Return to Napoleon's military conquests--this time in Egypt, which was then part of the Ottoman Empire. After his Italian campaign, he grew restless in Paris and led an expedition to Egypt in an attempt to colonize it and spread French civilization abroad.
Sister Republics? France and America
34. Sister Republics? France and America
May 31, 2013
Review the relationship between France and the United States. Coming off the heels of the American Revolution, the two nations had a cozy relationship in 1789, but the friendship soured over the next decade. By 1798, they were nearly at war, thanks to U.S. proclamations of neutrality, the Jay Treaty with Great Britain, and the XYZ Affair.
The Italian Campaign and the Sister Republics
33. The Italian Campaign and the Sister Republics
May 31, 2013
As commander of the French army in Italy in 1796, Napoleon marched into Milan, drove Austria to its knees, and set up a sister republic in Italy, astonishing the rest of Europe. See what made Napoleon such a brilliant military strategist, and learn about Napoleon's politics and diplomacy as a young leader.
Young Napoleon
32. Young Napoleon
May 31, 2013
Meet the famous Corsican who would one day crown himself emperor of France. This lecture introduces you to Napoleon as a young man. The context of his early military career will enhance your understanding of the mature general, and it demonstrates his complexity as an outsider striving to gain power.
The Directory?An Experimental Republic
31. The Directory?An Experimental Republic
May 31, 2013
Examine the moderate new republic and its attempts to find a middle way to carry out the promise of the Enlightenment and the Revolution without the disorder of the preceding years. Because this curious moment is wedged between the Terror and Napoleon, it tends to be ignored in historical surveys, but it was a significant time as France expanded and experimented with revolutionary innovations.
The Thermidorian Reaction
30. The Thermidorian Reaction
May 31, 2013
After the fall of Robespierre, France shifted to the right as the Thermidorians struggled to save the republic and create a social order free from the violence of the Terror. Witness the last great uprising of the Revolution, yet again over bread and politics, and trace the construction of the short-lived government called the Directory.
The Overthrow of Robespierre
29. The Overthrow of Robespierre
May 31, 2013
How was Robespierre overthrown? As the Terror intensifies, you will follow an exhausted Robespierre as he battles to maintain control, and you will meet a group known as the Thermidorians, who would take control of France and dismantle the Terror.
The Revolution Devours Her Children
28. The Revolution Devours Her Children
May 31, 2013
Continue your study of the Terror and explore the fundamental contradiction of using brutal means to create an egalitarian republic. Delve into the clandestine political plots and see how Robespierre tried to negotiate a middle path between the extremists who were for or against the Terror.
Terror Is the Order of the Day
27. Terror Is the Order of the Day
May 31, 2013
The beginning of the Terror is difficult to pinpoint, but by the fall of 1793, all the institutions of the Terror were in place. This lecture shows you how the Jacobins built the Terror, introduces you to some of its victims--including its most famous victim, Marie-Antoinette--and wrestles with the philosophical question of how the Terror emerged from the Revolution.
Revolution in Crisis?Summer 1793
26. Revolution in Crisis?Summer 1793
May 31, 2013
Witness the Jacobins' struggle to hold the republic together. French Federalists wanted local power, especially in the south and in Normandy. Although their revolt never gained traction, it stunned Jacobins in Paris. Another dramatic calamity came in July, with the actions of a woman named Charlotte Corday.
The Pressure Cooker of Politics
25. The Pressure Cooker of Politics
May 31, 2013
Return to Paris during the crisis months of spring 1793 as the leading revolutionaries wrestled with the ongoing economic crisis, war losses, and the growing fear of conspiracy and counterrevolution. The government took emergency measures and created the Committee of Public Safety, thus sowing the seeds for the Terror.
Counterrevolution and the Vendee
24. Counterrevolution and the Vendee
May 31, 2013
Not everyone was on board with the Revolution. In fact, tens of thousands of peasants and artisans in the provinces were dissatisfied with what they saw as the atheism and the anarchy of the revolutionaries. Learn about the civil war in western France and the counterrevolutionary efforts to restore the king and the old way of life.
Slave Revolt and the Abolition of Slavery
23. Slave Revolt and the Abolition of Slavery
May 31, 2013
The largest slave revolt in history took place in Saint-Domingue in the early 1790s. What made the revolt possible? How did insurgent slaves convince France that slavery should be abolished? Uncover the suspenseful story of Toussaint Louverture's rise to power, which paved the way for an independent Haiti.
Family and Marriage
22. Family and Marriage
May 31, 2013
Look beyond the larger issues of politics and economics and reflect on how the Revolution introduced new ideas of liberty and equality into family relationships. The revolutionaries legalized divorce, challenged the authority of fathers, and abolished unfair inheritance laws. Families became a microcosm of the Revolution as individuals figured out what liberty meant in everyday life.
Revolutionary Culture and Festivals
21. Revolutionary Culture and Festivals
May 31, 2013
Step back and explore the culture of France as revolutionary leaders tried to stamp out the power of religion and the monarchy. From a new republican calendar to festivals that celebrated the goddesses Liberty and Reason, radicals enacted a fascinating series of changes.
The Republic at War
20. The Republic at War
May 31, 2013
Consider the international issues while France was at war. How did the French army save the republic at the battle of Valmy? Could the French spread the Revolution abroad? Could they continue to face their growing list of enemies? You'll also learn about the French military and what it was like to be a soldier in the revolutionary army.
The King's Trial
19. The King's Trial
May 31, 2013
Experience the stunning trial and execution of King Louis XVI. This lecture begins by surveying the political alignments of the new republic and the debates between the radical Jacobins and the moderate Girondins over what to do with the king--a political division that would only deepen after the king's execution.
Overthrowing the Monarchy
18. Overthrowing the Monarchy
May 31, 2013
Turn to ordinary citizens as they overthrow their king and embark on a bold political experiment. With France losing the war with Austria and angry crowds in the streets, the Legislative Assembly declared the homeland in danger. See how revolutionary leaders and Parisians took matters into their own hands to press for creation of a republic.
The Path to War with Europe
17. The Path to War with Europe
May 31, 2013
Discover why France went to war with Austria and Prussia in 1792, and meet some of the key players in that decision--including the Jacobin Maximilien Robespierre who, ironically, feared war could destroy the Revolution and lead to a dictatorship. Study the causes of the war that would transform the Revolution.
Foreign Reactions: A Divided Europe
16. Foreign Reactions: A Divided Europe
May 31, 2013
Travel to Great Britain to explore the foreign reactions to the French Revolution. Professor Desan walks you through Edmund Burke's defense of tradition and the aristocratic system, as well as Thomas Paine's "Rights of Man," a response to Burke that lays out an argument for equality and a series of reforms.
The King's Flight
15. The King's Flight
May 31, 2013
On June 20, 1791, King Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette disappeared, having fled into the night. This lecture shows you the king's secret--and ultimately doomed--attempt to escape France. This act became a significant turning point for the Revolution because it allowed the French to imagine their country without a king.
Women's Rights in the Early Revolution
14. Women's Rights in the Early Revolution
May 31, 2013
Women had no official political role in the Old Regime, but the Revolution raised the question of women's rights and their place in the public sphere. Find out how two of the era's key feminists--Condorcet, a male mathematician, and Olympe de Gouges, a female writer--framed the demand for women's rights, and observe the many ways women engaged in politics.
The Revolution and the Colonies
13. The Revolution and the Colonies
May 31, 2013
Turn to the French colonies and ask what the Revolution meant in places such as Saint-Domingue, the colony that would soon become the independent nation of Haiti. Did the Declaration of the Rights of Man apply to free people of color? Would the Revolution abolish the slave trade? These questions would take several years to answer.
Religion and the Early Revolution
12. Religion and the Early Revolution
May 31, 2013
Shift your attention from politics to the Catholic Church, which was at the heart of local communities throughout France. Despite an overall decline in religion in the 18th century, revolutionaries were playing with fire as they sought to reform the church, and their actions divided the country.
Political Apprenticeship in Democracy
11. Political Apprenticeship in Democracy
May 31, 2013
The press, political clubs, and elections--these three pillars of democratic, revolutionary politics set the agenda for the nation as France redistributed power, redrew its administrative map, and instituted a host of reforms that gave local voting power to the provinces.
Paris Commands Its King
10. Paris Commands Its King
May 31, 2013
March to Versailles with thousands of women and National Guardsmen to protest the price of bread and to lobby the king for political changes. This huge demonstration compelled the king and queen to move to Paris and revealed the power of popular activism.
The Declaration of the Rights of Man
9. The Declaration of the Rights of Man
May 31, 2013
Study the origins and significance of this shocking declaration, from its influences in the Enlightenment and American rights declarations to its implications for religious liberty and the role of the king. Who would get these "universal rights"? How would they be implemented?
Peasant Revolt and the Abolition of Feudalism
8. Peasant Revolt and the Abolition of Feudalism
May 31, 2013
In the weeks after the storming of the Bastille, panic gripped the countryside. Peasants revolted against their lords, and rumors about grain hoarding, bandits, and foreign invasion swirled around France. Amid this "Great Fear of 1789," the National Assembly met and dismantled the feudal system as the political revolution morphed into a radical social revolution.
July 14th: Storming the Bastille
7. July 14th: Storming the Bastille
May 31, 2013
Unpack the story of one of the most famous days in French history. In the wake of the Estates-General crisis, hungry crowds gathered in the streets of Paris. As the king gathered troops around Versailles, the politics of hunger took over in the streets and the crowds stormed the Bastille, sparking a nationwide revolution.
The Political Awakening of 1789
6. The Political Awakening of 1789
May 31, 2013
When the Estates-General met in 1789 to tackle the nation's woes, several questions were on the table: Who would have political power? How could France reform its tax system? What would happen to the system of privilege? Explore how the Third Estate challenged the status quo and created a revolutionary new Assembly to represent all France.
American Revolution and the Economic Crisis
5. American Revolution and the Economic Crisis
May 31, 2013
Explore the economic problems of France in the 1780s. The nation was deeply in debt, due to war with Britain and participating in the American Revolution. The opening of free trade hit the textile market and caused high unemployment. Finally, years of poor harvests and famine spurred grain riots.
France, Global Commerce, and Colonization
4. France, Global Commerce, and Colonization
May 31, 2013
See how global trade, the mercantilist system, and the slave trade disrupted traditional notions of societal hierarchy as non-nobles benefited greatly from the new economy. Additionally, global warfare--especially between France and Great Britain over colonization--left France weakened and deeply in debt.
The Enlightenment
3. The Enlightenment
May 31, 2013
Enter 18th-century salons and cafés to join the debates over modernity and politics. While writers such as Voltaire, Diderot, and Rousseau argued over natural rights, political reform, the social contract, and more, the Old Regime cracked down on dissidents and threw writers in jail for criticizing the government.
Privilege? Old Regime Society
2. Privilege? Old Regime Society
May 31, 2013
Look at the hierarchical society of France in the 1780s, which was divided into three estates--those who prayed (the clergy), those who fought (the nobles), and those who worked and paid taxes (the peasants). This system placed a heavy burden on the peasantry and set the stage for revolution.
Introduction and the Old Regime Monarchy
1. Introduction and the Old Regime Monarchy
May 31, 2013
Take a first look at the complexities of overthrowing a monarchy and constructing a democracy. This first lecture introduces you to Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette and lays the groundwork for the gripping drama of the French Revolution.
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Where to Watch Living the French Revolution and the Age of Napoleon
Living the French Revolution and the Age of Napoleon is available for streaming on the The Great Courses website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch Living the French Revolution and the Age of Napoleon on demand at Apple TV Channels, Amazon Prime, Amazon and Hoopla.
  • Premiere Date
    May 31, 2013