Impact of Napoleonic Rule in Europe-Free-Samples for Students

Question: Were the renaissance philosophers activists or inspired major Europeans to transform the society in terms of knowledge and governance? Answer: European revolution was instigated by the revolutionary philosophers whose thought gave birth to Napoleon Bonaparte. The enlightenment of Europe started with the enlightenment scientists and the thinkers who brought revolution in the fields of art, science, religion and the form of government. The mid 1500s was the time, when the world started to change its perspective. The theocentricism changed into anthropocentricism where the man was in the center of everything[1]. The scientists questioned the accepted beliefs traditional by the religious figures as well as forming new theories to prove their thoughts. This paper discusses the influence of the enlightened scholars to change the ideology of Europe, the process of creating stage for revolutions and concludes with the impact of Napoleonic rule in the history of Europe. The scholars opened new ways in astronomy, mathematics and science which were purely observation and enquiry based. The scientists like Copernicus, Galileo and Newton introduced their theories which changed the life of the Europeans for eternity. Despite the fact these scientists were capable to provide evidences and made new discoveries, they had to face the rage of the Church because all of their discoveries and inventions were the against the conventional outlook and beliefs of Christianity. However, this oppression of church on the revolutionary thinkers could not stop the scientists to explore and popularize their theories. Hence, they developed various scientific instruments some of which were made for better observations and new discoveries. Changes took place in the medical science and anatomy which was once prohibited by the Church. The discoveries in chemistry and physics paved the way for industrial revolution in Europe. The enlightenment in Europe on the other hand changed the process of governance and law through various political ideologies. The idea of government changed as the theorists like John Locke and Hobbes supported the view of political right possessed by the common people of the country. The concept of power shift from the King to the citizens was the milestone that later created scope for the French and American revolution[2]. The philosophers like Voltaire, Montesquieu and Rousseau were the pioneers whose thoughts ignited the political situation of France. The old regime in France supported for three social classes. These thoughts changed the way of governance first in France and then in the whole Europe thus abolished the concept of monarchy placing power in the hands of the common people. The enlightenment ideas of these French and Italian philosophers inspired the third estate because it consisted with the most exploited class who had the least privileges but paid heavy taxes. This change in the political system, interested them more in bringing the long desired change. Beside these, the country was under tremendous economic pressure. The weak leadership of king Louis XVI with his poor decision, disturbed the administrative hierarchy greatly[3]. These however created the situation for setting up of national assembly by the third estate. As the king decided to suppress this assembly, the mob attacked Bastille and initiated the French revolution. The judicial, administrative and legislative system of governance changed completely and the perspective towards the women changed[4]. The enlightened thinkers changed the traditional perspectives regarding the role of women in the society for which the women got the scope for education and took art in the politics of the stat e like men[5]. Some of the wealthy, influential and educated women decided to bear the torch of enlightenment ideas. The enlightenment spread throughout the western world, profoundly influencing the arts as well as the government. During the 1700s, Paris became the center of enlightenment and publication of Encyclopedia, spread the knowledge of these enlightened scholars throughout Europe. In the aspect of art, newer styles replaced the Baroque style of art which was grand and ornate. The neo classical style of art brought back the Roman and Greek style again even in the literature and music, the classical style started to be followed. The new and enlightened composers such as Mozart and Beethoven followed the classical style but made them more elegant[6]. The enlightenment in Europe changed the face of monarchy also. The enlighten ruler like Catherine of Russia abolished capital punishment and physical torture. The enlightenment in Europe was transmitted to the new world America. Initially, most of the American states were the colonies of European powers like Britain, Dutch and Spain. After the French revolution these colonies aimed to end the colonialism by these powers which arouse the colonial tensions. This growing hostility leads to war and the Americans brought about their declaration and independence which was based on the philosophy of Locke[7]. The Americans though has weak government but established a new constitution. The federal system of government was introduced where the power was divided between nation and the states. They protected the interest of the citizens hence passed the bill of rights by following the philosophies of the European enlightened scholars. The Europe was at the pinnacle of success and in the midst of political satisfaction but what caused the emergence of struggle of power that led Napoleon to rise is a worthy to discuss. The people after the French revolution were under terror[8]. As there was no such strong government to rule the country, the national assembly dictated all the national resources in the name of the rights of man. It seized the land occupied by Church, destroyed all governmental documents and slaughtered the King. Despite the revolutionaries adopted the slogan of liberty, equality and fraternity, the division developed among the revolutionaries. Due to issues like food shortage, debt and threat of attack from other countries divide the revolutionaries into moderate, radicals and conservatives. In this situation, the Jacobins, the radicals, took the responsibility of the government. Robespierre was the leader of this party who led the public safety committee but continued his dictatorship in the name of safety. The mass slaughtering created terror in France. However, in 1791, this reign of terror was abolished with the execution of Robespierre[9]. Towards the end of 1794, the moderate leaders captured power as the terror shifted public opinion from the radicals. This however, brought a good change in the legislation in France with a structured economy and administration. In 1799, Napoleon seized the power and crowned himself as the emperor of France. According to the historians Napoleon is the child of French revolution who took the opportunity of anarchy after the revolution and won the support of the common people. Initially a general in the French war with Britain, Russia and Austria, he became the French emperor and build the nation which was later became the ideal for other countries of Europe[10]. He established new education system and arranged to train the government officials for running administration. The Napoleonic code uniformed all the regulations. He set up national banking system and rearranged tax collection system. He conquered Europe by extending his territories from Russia, Austria and Sweden. Through brilliant battles he curbed the power of his enemies and ruled till 1812. The economic reform introduced by Napoleon strengthened the economy of Europe by weakening Britain. Thus the age of revolution concluded with the fall of Napol eon Bibliography: Anderson, Matthew Smith.Europe in the eighteenth century 1713-1789. Routledge, 2014. Coleman, Charly. "Jonathan Israel. Revolutionary Ideas: An Intellectual History of the French Revolution from The Rights of Man to Robespierre." (2016): 1366-1367. Goodwin, Albert.The friends of liberty: the English democratic movement in the age of the French Revolution. Routledge, 2016. Hadfield, Andrew, and Matthew Dimmock. "Introduction."Literature and Popular Culture in Early Modern England. Routledge, 2016. 15-26. Higonnet, Patrice. "Liberty or Death: The French Revolution. By Peter McPhee (New Haven, Yale University Press, 2016) 488 pp. $35.00." (2016): 424-425. Jones, Colin. "Revolutionary Ideas: An Intellectual History of the French Revolution from the Rights of Manto Robespierre." (2015): 252-252. Pisarczyk, Kate, Zach Hall, and Nelle Conley. "The French Enlightenment and Two Men: Napoleon Bonaparte and Beethoven." (2017). Rothenberg, Gunther E. "The origins, causes, and extension of the wars of the French Revolution and Napoleon."Warfare in Europe 1792 1815. Routledge, 2017. 47-69. Steinberg, Ronen. "Trauma and the Effects of Mass Violence in Revolutionary France: A Critical Inquiry."Historical Reflections41.3 (2015). Tackett, Timothy.Religion, revolution, and regional culture in eighteenth-century France: the ecclesiastical oath of 1791. Princeton University Press, 2014 Rothenberg, Gunther E. "The origins, causes, and extension of the wars of the French Revolution and Napoleon."Warfare in Europe 1792 1815. Routledge, 2017. 47-69. Goodwin, Albert.The friends of liberty: the English democratic movement in the age of the French Revolution. Routledge, 2016. Tackett, Timothy.Religion, revolution, and regional culture in eighteenth-century France: the ecclesiastical oath of 1791. Princeton University Press, 2014. Hadfield, Andrew, and Matthew Dimmock. "Introduction."Literature and Popular Culture in Early Modern England. Routledge, 2016. 15-26. Coleman, Charly. "Jonathan Israel. Revolutionary Ideas: An Intellectual History of the French Revolution from The Rights of Man to Robespierre." (2016): 1366-1367. Goodwin, Albert.The friends of liberty: the English democratic movement in the age of the French Revolution. Routledge, 2016. Steinberg, Ronen. "Trauma and the Effects of Mass Violence in Revolutionary France: A Critical Inquiry."Historical Reflections41.3 (2015). Higonnet, Patrice. "Liberty or Death: The French Revolution. By Peter McPhee (New Haven, Yale University Press, 2016) 488 pp. $35.00." (2016): 424-425. Anderson, Matthew Smith.Europe in the eighteenth century 1713-1789. Routledge, 2014 Pisarczyk, Kate, Zach Hall, and Nelle Conley. "The French Enlightenment and Two Men: Napoleon Bonaparte and Beethoven." (2017)