The French Revolution
The French Revolution was a period of radical social and political change in France that lasted from 1789 to 1799. It brought an end to the absolute monarchy and set the stage for the rise of modern democracies.

Causes of the French Revolution
- Economic hardship: France was facing economic difficulties due to years of poor harvests, high taxes, and extravagant spending by the monarchy.
- Social inequality: The society was divided into three estates, with the clergy and nobility enjoying privileges while the common people suffered.
- Enlightenment ideas: The ideas of equality, liberty, and fraternity spread by philosophers like Rousseau and Voltaire inspired the people to demand change.
- Weak leadership: King Louis XVI's indecisiveness and inability to address the country's problems further fueled the discontent among the people.

Key Events of the French Revolution
- Storming of the Bastille: On July 14, 1789, the people of Paris stormed the Bastille prison, a symbol of royal tyranny, marking the beginning of the revolution.
- Reign of Terror: During the radical phase of the revolution, led by the Jacobins and Maximilien Robespierre, thousands of people were executed in the name of preserving the revolution.
- Rise of Napoleon Bonaparte: Napoleon, a military general, seized power in 1799 and established himself as the ruler of France, bringing an end to the revolution.

Impact of the French Revolution
- Abolition of feudalism: The revolution led to the end of feudal privileges and the establishment of a more egalitarian society.
- Rise of nationalism: The revolution inspired nationalist movements across Europe and the world.
- Spread of democratic ideals: The ideas of liberty, equality, and fraternity became central to modern political thought and influenced the development of democracies worldwide.