An introduction

 This section deals with the origins, outbreak, course and results of the French Revolution.  It focuses on the social, economic, political and intellectual challenges confronting the ancien régime and the stages of the revolutionary process during this period, culminating in the rise and rule of Napoleon Bonaparte. The unit requires investigation of the impact of the French Revolution, as well as Napoleon’s domestic and foreign policies, upon France and its European neighbours.  Crisis of the ancien régime: role of the monarchy especially Louis XVI; intellectual, political, social, financial and economic challenges  Stages in, and radicalization of, the revolution: urban and rural revolt; Constitution of 1791; the fate of the monarchy; the Terror; Robespierre; Thermidorean Reaction; Directory  Revolutionary wars to promote and defend revolutionary ideals 1792‑96  Rise of Napoleon Bonaparte  Napoleon’s domestic and foreign policies pre- and post-1804; Napoleonic wars  Collapse of the Napoleonic Empire and Bourbon restoration; Congress of Vienna

Major Provinces of France before the Revolution, with provincial capitals marked. Listed as English name (capital).. 1. Île-de-France (Paris) 2. Berry (Bourges) 3. Orléanais (Orléans) 4. Normandy (Rouen) 5. Languedoc (Toulouse) 6. Lyonnais (Lyon) 7. Dauphiné (Grenoble) 8. Champagne (Troyes) 9. Aunis (La Rochelle) 10. Saintonge (Saintes) 11. Poitou (Poitiers) 12. Guyenne and Gascony (Bordeaux) 13. Burgundy (Dijon) 14. Picardy (Amiens) 15. Anjou (Angers)Île-de-FranceBerryBourgesOrléanaisOrléansNormandyRouenLanguedocToulouseLyonnaisLyonDauphinéGrenobleChampagneTroyesAunisLa RochelleSaintongeSaintesPoitouPoitiersGuyenneGasconyBordeauxBurgundyDijonPicardyAmiensAnjouAngers 16. Provence (Aix-en- Provence) 17. Angoumois (Angoulême) 18. Bourbonnais (Moulins) 19. Marche (Guéret) 20. Brittany (Rennes)ProvenceAix-en- ProvenceAngoumoisAngoulêmeBourbonnaisMoulinsMarcheGuéretBrittanyRennes 21. Maine (Le Mans) 22. Touraine (Tours) 23. Limousin (Limoges) 24. Foix (Foix) 25. Auvergne (Clermont- Ferrand) 26. Béarn (Pau) 27. Alsace (Strasbourg, cons. souv. in Colmar) 28. Artois (Arras) 29. Roussillon (Perpignan) 30. Flanders and Hainaut (Lille, parlement in Douai)MaineLe MansTouraineToursLimousinLimogesFoix AuvergneClermont- FerrandBéarnPauAlsaceStrasbourgColmarArtoisArrasRoussillonPerpignanFlandersHainautLilleDouai 31. Franche-Comté (Besançon) 32. Lorraine (Nancy) 33. Corsica (off map, Ajaccio, cons. souv. in Bastia) 34. Nivernais (Nevers) 35. Comtat Venaissin, a Papal fief 36. Imperial Free City of Mulhouse 37. Savoy, a Sardinian fief 38. Nice, a Sardinian fief 39. Montbéliard, a fief of Württemberg 40. (not pictured) Trois- Évêchés (Metz, Toul and VerdunFranche-ComtéBesançonLorraineNancyCorsicaAjaccioBastiaNivernaisNeversComtat Venaissin PapalImperial Free City MulhouseSavoySardinianNiceSardinianMontbéliard WürttembergTrois- ÉvêchésMetzToul Verdun