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DAILY
CLASS NOTES
WORLD HISTORY

Lecture – 07
18th Century (Part-05)
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18th Century (Part-05)

Rise of Napoleon:
❖ He was born in 1769 on the island of Corsica, as the son of a noble.
❖ He was an artillery officer when the French Revolution broke out.
❖ He performed very well in his military campaign.
❖ He played an important role in the Italian campaign, Egyptian campaigns.
❖ He demonstrated dazzling talent in military planning and leadership and after seizing political power in France
in 1799 he crowned himself emperor in 1804.
❖ His rise can conceived in the light of:
A. Failure of directory
B. His military success outside France and his handling of the Paris Revolt.
❖ Therefore, it is said that his rise was the result of “Power from above and Pressure from below’.
❖ He once said, “I found the crown of France lying on the ground, I picked it up with my sword”.
Q. It was hope that started the revolution but it was frustration that led it to the feet of Napoleon. Examine.
Napoleonic Reform:
❖ He was known for his administrative reforms.
❖ He centralized the administration.
❖ He constituted many departments that were directly reporting to the center.
❖ Each department was overseen by a prefect to ensure effective governance.
Economic Reforms:
❖ He checked inflation by controlling black marketing and speculation.
❖ He established the Bank of France.
❖ He promoted trade and commerce.
❖ He made provision for a loan.
❖ He stressed the improvement of agriculture.
❖ He started executions to promote the sale of French products.
Educational Reforms:
❖ He wanted to create able administrators and skilled technicians.
❖ He promoted technical education and liberal education.
❖ He said education should not be managed by private bodies like churches.
❖ He also established military schools.
Religious and Cultural Reforms:
❖ He signed an agreement with the church called ‘concord’.
❖ Under this agreement, the freedom of the clergy was curtailed.
❖ He wanted to develop Paris as a cultural center.
Legal Reforms (Napoleonic Code): (most important reform)
❖ It was a compilation of civil, criminal, and commercial laws.
❖ He accepted the Principle of Equality before the law.
❖ According to Napoleon, his biggest achievement was the ‘Napoleonic code’.
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Foreign Policy of Napoleon and his decline:

❖ Napoleon wanted to dominate Europe and he wanted to defeat England.
❖ He signed the Peace of Amiens in 1802 with England because he wanted some time to consolidate.
❖ He fought the Battle of Trafalgar with England. in this battle, Napoleon was defeated.
❖ After this defeat, he realized that he could naive his challenge in direct battle therefore he devised a new method
to challenge England. This is called the continental system.
❖ This was a system of economic warfare.
❖ It was a negative strategy. He wanted to stop European Nations but he failed in his approach because of a lack
of naval power and now he was involved in different wars like war with Austria, Russia, and Spain
(peninsular war).
❖ He had a good relationship with Russia and a ‘Treaty of Tilsit' with Russia but because of the continental
system relationship deteriorated.
❖ In 1813 in the Battle of Leipzig by the ‘Coalition of Nations’, also called the Battle of Nations, Napoleon
was defeated.
❖ In 1815 in the Battle of Waterlow, he surrendered. (final defeat of Napoleon).
Why the decline of Napoleon?
❖ Continental System and Unnecessary Wars: Napoleon's implementation of the Continental System, aimed
at economically isolating Britain, led to unnecessary conflicts and strained his resources. This misdirected
energy diverted attention and manpower away from consolidating his power.
❖ Military Campaigns: The Moscow campaign and the Spanish Campaign were pivotal moments in Napoleon's
downfall. The failed invasion of Russia in 1812 severely weakened his army, both in terms of manpower and
morale. The prolonged and costly Peninsular War in Spain drained French resources and contributed to
Napoleon's overextension.
❖ Weak Naval Force: Napoleon's weak naval force, particularly in comparison to the British Royal Navy,
limited his ability to challenge Britain's maritime dominance and enforce his Continental System effectively.
❖ Spread of Nationalism: Napoleon's conquests and imposition of French rule sparked nationalist sentiments
in conquered territories. The growing resentment and desire for independence fueled resistance movements
against French rule, further draining Napoleon's resources and weakening his hold on power.
❖ Failure of Domestic Reforms: Despite Napoleon's efforts to implement domestic reforms, such as the
Napoleonic Code, his autocratic style of governance and centralization of power hindered effective reform
implementation. This failure to address underlying social and economic issues contributed to dissatisfaction
among the population.
❖ Dictatorial Behavior: Napoleon's authoritarian rule and heavy reliance on his personal leadership style
created resentment and opposition within France and across Europe. The concentration of power in one
individual led to a backlash against his rule and contributed to his eventual downfall.
Significance /Impact of the French Revolution:
❖ The French Revolution is not considered merely a local affair. It created a deep impact not only in France but
also all over Europe.
❖ It inspired an anti-colonial struggle.
❖ The French Revolution led to the Collapse of Absolutism.
❖ It abolished the feudal system.
❖ It reduced social inequality.
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❖ It curtailed privileges.
❖ It questioned the authority of the church. The church lost its supremacy.
❖ The Church now became subordinate to the state.
❖ There was a declaration of the rights of man and citizens.
❖ Principle of separation of power recognised.
❖ The concept of republican government was popularized.
❖ The concept of democracy was popularized.
❖ The concept of nationalism was popularized.
❖ Therefore, the French Revolution led to the foundation of the Modern World.
Q. Describe how the American and French Revolutions set the groundwork for the modern world.
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