The French Revolution shook the world from 1789 to 1799 and completely transformed modern European societies. By ricochet, it transformed the whole world. It was a real political tsunami, with immediate and long term consequences. With the following Napoleonic wars, it shaped the Nineteenth century in a way that nobody could foresee only a generation before.
There are many misconceptions about the French Revolution, like the idea that a mob captured the king and guillotined him right away. It's not at all what happened. It's a lot more complicated than that. Hopefully you will find this episode palatable and a good entry into the fascinating events of the Révolution.
For those who want to know more, I highly recommend that you listen to "Grey History: The French Revolution & Napoleon" by William Clark.
Timecodes:
Introduction
06:53 - The Origins of the Révolution
17:25 - Adieu, Old Regime!
26:48 - Working with Louis XVI
36:15 - The French Republic
41:37 - The Terreur
48:16 - The Directoire
53:58 - The Consulat
57:57 - Conclusion
Music: Marche pour la cérémonie des Turcs, composed by Jean-Baptiste Lully, arranged and performed by Jérôme Arfouche.
Art: Prise de la Bastille by Jean-Pierre Houël, 1789
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