Summary of the
French Revolution
A Shorter Summary
In 1804, Napoleon Bonaparte crowned himself
Emperor of France. He set out to conquer
neighbouring European countries, dispossessing
dynasties and creating kingdoms where he placed
members of his family. Napoleon saw his role as a
moderniser of Europe. He introduced many laws
such as the protection of private property and a
uniform system of weights and measures provided
by the decimal system. Initially, many saw
Napoleon as a liberator who would bring freedom
for the people. But soon the Napoleonic armies
came to be viewed everywhere as an invading
force. He was finally defeated at Waterloo in 1815.
Many of his measures that carried the
revolutionary ideas of liberty and modern laws to
other parts of Europe had an impact on people long
after Napoleon had left. The ideas of liberty and
democratic rights were the most important legacy
of the French Revolution. These spread from
France to the rest of Europe during the nineteenth
, century, where feudal systems were abolished.
Colonised peoples reworked the idea of freedom
from bondage into their movements to create a
sovereign nation state. Tipu Sultan and Rammohan
Roy are two examples of individuals who
responded to the ideas
coming from revolutionary France.
A Detailed Summary
French Society during the late 18th Century
Right after the war in 1774, with Louis XVI
ascending the throne, these were the main traits
shaping up French Society during the 18th century.
Upholding traditional and hierarchical values,
French society was divided into three estates.
The first and the highest form of estates
consisted of Clergymen, the second was the
Nobles, and the third consisted of common
people including peasants.
Almost 60% of French land was owned by a
small group of clergymen and nobles. On the
other hand, the peasants who were 90% of the
entire French population hardly owned any
causing a very distinct difference in the living
standards of these three societies.
Although the clergymen and nobles sowed 60%
of French land, they were exempted from
French Revolution
A Shorter Summary
In 1804, Napoleon Bonaparte crowned himself
Emperor of France. He set out to conquer
neighbouring European countries, dispossessing
dynasties and creating kingdoms where he placed
members of his family. Napoleon saw his role as a
moderniser of Europe. He introduced many laws
such as the protection of private property and a
uniform system of weights and measures provided
by the decimal system. Initially, many saw
Napoleon as a liberator who would bring freedom
for the people. But soon the Napoleonic armies
came to be viewed everywhere as an invading
force. He was finally defeated at Waterloo in 1815.
Many of his measures that carried the
revolutionary ideas of liberty and modern laws to
other parts of Europe had an impact on people long
after Napoleon had left. The ideas of liberty and
democratic rights were the most important legacy
of the French Revolution. These spread from
France to the rest of Europe during the nineteenth
, century, where feudal systems were abolished.
Colonised peoples reworked the idea of freedom
from bondage into their movements to create a
sovereign nation state. Tipu Sultan and Rammohan
Roy are two examples of individuals who
responded to the ideas
coming from revolutionary France.
A Detailed Summary
French Society during the late 18th Century
Right after the war in 1774, with Louis XVI
ascending the throne, these were the main traits
shaping up French Society during the 18th century.
Upholding traditional and hierarchical values,
French society was divided into three estates.
The first and the highest form of estates
consisted of Clergymen, the second was the
Nobles, and the third consisted of common
people including peasants.
Almost 60% of French land was owned by a
small group of clergymen and nobles. On the
other hand, the peasants who were 90% of the
entire French population hardly owned any
causing a very distinct difference in the living
standards of these three societies.
Although the clergymen and nobles sowed 60%
of French land, they were exempted from
