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the enlightenment
The Enlightenment was an intellectual movement emphasizing reason, science, and individual freedom that profoundly influenced the political and social fabric of France and Europe. Thinkers such as Voltaire, Rousseau, and Montesquieu advocated freedom, equality, and human rights, laying the intellectual foundation for later revolutions. -
The capture of the Bastille
The storming of the Bastille by the citizens of Paris marked the beginning of the French Revolution. The Bastille symbolized despotism, and its capture symbolized the people's quest for freedom. -
The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen
The Declaration established the principles of liberty, equality and sovereignty among the people and became the cornerstone of modern notions of human rights -
The execution of Louis XVI
King Louis XVI of France was executed for treason, symbolizing the end of the monarchy and the establishment of the republic -
Reign of terror
The Jacobin leader Robespierre followed a repressive policy of mass executions of those deemed counter-revolutionary, and the society was plunged into terror -
The Rise of Napoleon
Napoleon Bonaparte came to power through the Brumaire coup d 'etat, ending the rule of the directory and beginning his imperial era