The French Revolution and the Origins of Modern Politics

Human rights, national sovereignty, terror, even revolution itself - the French Revolution gave rise to modern politics. This course examines the causes, course, and consequences of the revolution from the crisis of the Old Regime to the Napoleonic period. We will read both original documents and current historical scholarship on the French Revolution. Throughout, key themes will include the role of ideas and language in political change, the relationship between revolution and violence, the politics of rights, and the global legacies of the revolution.