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The French Revolution

The French Revolution was one of the most important upheavals in world history. This course examines its origins, course and outcomes.

This course is designed for you to work through successfully on your own. However you will not be alone on this journey. Use the resources included in the course and take part in the suggested learning activities to get the most out of your learning. To successfully complete this course, it is recommended that you devote at least six hours to every module over the six weeks of the course. In that time you should watch the video lectures, reflect and respond to in-video pause points, and complete the quizzes.

As part of the required reading for this course, during each week of this course you will have free access to a chapter of Peter McPhee's textbook, The French Revolution, which is also available for purchase as an e-book.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Week 1 - France in the 1780s

We begin this course with an introduction to the French Revolution. We will examine the social and institutional structures of the Old Regime. We will look at the main occupational groups and the roles of the First and Second estates (the clergy and nobility) in particular. We will also consider the relationship between Paris and the provinces in Old Regime France. Finally, you will be introduced to the Enlightenment and we will reflect on its significance and its possible revolutionary implications.

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Provides a solid foundation in French history and the French Revolution

Offers a comprehensive study of the Revolution

Taught by Peter McPhee, a renowned historian specializing in the French Revolution

Instructors provide a balanced perspective on the Revolution

Covers the social, institutional, and political aspects of the Revolution

Suitable for history enthusiasts and students

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Reviews summary

Comprehensive overview of the french revolution

According to learners, this course provides a comprehensive and engaging overview of the French Revolution. Students particularly praise the quality of the lectures and the instructor's expertise, finding the content both informative and well-structured across the six weekly modules. Many appreciate the inclusion of assigned readings, though note that the course requires a significant time commitment to fully engage with the material. Overall, it is viewed as a highly valuable starting point for understanding this pivotal historical event.

Requires dedication to complete.

"Be prepared to dedicate the recommended six hours per week; it's necessary to absorb the material."

"The workload felt substantial, especially when including the required readings."

"It's not a quick course, requires serious engagement with lectures, readings, and quizzes."

"While valuable, it does demand a significant time investment weekly."

"You need to manage your time well to keep up with the pace and content."

Access to key textbook material.

"Having free access to chapters from Peter McPhee's textbook was an excellent resource and highly valuable."

"The readings complemented the lectures perfectly and added depth to my understanding."

"I found the assigned readings essential for grasping the nuances discussed in the videos."

"Reading the weekly chapter really enhanced my learning experience."

"The textbook excerpts were a great addition to the course."

Logical week-by-week progression.

"The course structure, with each week building on the last, made it very easy to follow the timeline."

"I appreciated the logical flow of the modules, covering events chronologically."

"The weekly breakdown of topics was clear and helped manage the material effectively."

"The structure made it easy to understand the complex sequence of events."

"Well-organized syllabus that progresses nicely through the Revolution."

Solid historical overview provided.

"This course gave me a solid foundation in the history of the French Revolution, covering its key phases."

"It provides a comprehensive overview from the Old Regime through to Napoleon and its legacy."

"I felt the course covered the essential aspects and figures without getting bogged down."

"A great survey course that touches on the important events and interpretations."

"The content felt very thorough for an introductory level course."

Instructor brings history to life.

"The lectures were absolutely fantastic; the professor is incredibly knowledgeable and passionate."

"I found the video lectures very engaging and easy to follow, covering complex topics clearly."

"His delivery kept me hooked, making even difficult periods of the Revolution understandable."

"The lecturer's insights were invaluable and made the history feel relevant."

"I really enjoyed the lectures, they were the highlight of the course for me."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in The French Revolution with these activities:

Read 'The French Revolution' by Peter McPhee

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This book provides a comprehensive overview of the French Revolution, covering its causes, course, and outcomes.

View An Environmental History of France on Amazon

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Read the Introduction and Chapter 1.
Read Chapters 2 and 3.
Read Chapters 4 and 5.
Read Chapters 6 and 7.
Read the Conclusion.

Watch videos on the French Revolution on Coursera

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These videos provide a concise and engaging overview of the French Revolution.

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Watch the video 'The French Revolution: A Brief History'.
Watch the video 'The Causes of the French Revolution'.
Watch the video 'The Course of the French Revolution'.
Watch the video 'The Outcomes of the French Revolution'.

Create a timeline of the French Revolution

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This activity will help you to understand the chronology of the French Revolution.

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Identify the key events of the French Revolution.
Write down each event on a separate index card.
Arrange the index cards in chronological order.
Create a timeline by drawing a line on a piece of paper and marking the dates of the key events.

Five other activities

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Take a quiz on the French Revolution

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This quiz will help you to assess your knowledge of the French Revolution.

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Go to the Coursera website.
Find the quiz for the French Revolution course.
Take the quiz.

Discuss the French Revolution with a classmate

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This activity will help you to gain a deeper understanding of the French Revolution by discussing it with someone else.

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Find a classmate who is also taking the French Revolution course.
Schedule a time to meet with your classmate.
Discuss the French Revolution with your classmate.

Write a short essay on the causes of the French Revolution

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This activity will help you to develop your critical thinking and writing skills.

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Choose a topic for your essay.
Research your topic.
Write an outline for your essay.
Write your essay.
Proofread your essay.

Create a collection of resources on the French Revolution

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This activity will help you to become more organized and to develop your research skills.

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Find resources on the French Revolution.
Organize the resources into a collection.
Share the collection with others.

Contribute to a Wikipedia article on the French Revolution

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This activity will help you to learn more about the French Revolution and to contribute to the open source community.

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Find a Wikipedia article on the French Revolution.
Edit the article.
Submit your changes.

Career center

Learners who complete The French Revolution will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Historian

The French Revolution was an event that has reshaped the world, and this course will introduce you to its context, its events, and its consequences. Taking this course can help you develop skills in research, critical analysis, and synthesis, which are essential for a career as a Historian. It may also help you develop a specialized expertise in French history.

See salaries and explore the career path for Historian

Political Scientist

The French Revolution was one of the most important upheavals in world history, and this course will examine its origins, course, and outcomes. Taking this course can help you build a foundation in political science and develop skills in analysis, research, and writing, which are essential for a career as a Political Scientist. It may also help you develop a specialized expertise in the history of political revolutions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Political Scientist

Lawyer

The French Revolution was a time of great legal and social change, and this course will examine the legal and institutional structures of the Old Regime, as well as the reforms introduced in 1789-91. Taking this course can help you build a foundation in legal history and develop skills in research, analysis, and writing, which are essential for a career as a Lawyer. It may also help you develop a specialized expertise in the history of law and legal institutions.

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Journalist

The French Revolution was a complex and multifaceted event, and this course will examine its causes, course, and outcomes. Taking this course can help you build a foundation in journalism and develop skills in research, analysis, and writing, which are essential for a career as a Journalist. It may also help you develop a specialized expertise in the history of revolutions.

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Teacher

The French Revolution was a transformative event in world history, and this course will provide you with the knowledge and skills to teach about it in a clear and engaging way. Taking this course can help you build a foundation in history education and develop skills in lesson planning, classroom management, and assessment.

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Museum curator

The French Revolution was a time of great social and political upheaval, and this course will introduce you to the key events and figures of this period. Taking this course can help you build a foundation in museum studies and develop skills in research, collection management, and exhibition design. It may also help you develop a specialized expertise in the history of the French Revolution.

See salaries and explore the career path for Museum curator

Archivist

The French Revolution generated a wealth of primary source material, and this course will introduce you to the key archives and repositories where these materials can be found. Taking this course can help you build a foundation in archival studies and develop skills in research, preservation, and access. It may also help you develop a specialized expertise in the history of the French Revolution.

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Librarian

The French Revolution was a time of great intellectual and cultural ferment, and this course will introduce you to the key ideas and works of this period. Taking this course can help you build a foundation in library science and develop skills in research, collection development, and reference. It may also help you develop a specialized expertise in the history of the French Revolution.

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Anthropologist

The French Revolution was a time of great social and cultural change, and this course will introduce you to the key concepts and theories used to study this period. Taking this course can help you build a foundation in anthropology and develop skills in research, analysis, and writing. It may also help you develop a specialized expertise in the history of the French Revolution.

See salaries and explore the career path for Anthropologist

Sociologist

The French Revolution was a time of great social and political upheaval, and this course will introduce you to the key concepts and theories used to study this period. Taking this course can help you build a foundation in sociology and develop skills in research, analysis, and writing. It may also help you develop a specialized expertise in the history of the French Revolution.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sociologist

Economist

The French Revolution had a profound impact on the French economy, and this course will introduce you to the key economic concepts and theories used to study this period. Taking this course can help you build a foundation in economics and develop skills in research, analysis, and writing. It may also help you develop a specialized expertise in the history of the French Revolution.

See salaries and explore the career path for Economist

Psychologist

The French Revolution was a time of great psychological stress and trauma, and this course will introduce you to the key concepts and theories used to study this period. Taking this course can help you build a foundation in psychology and develop skills in research, analysis, and writing. It may also help you develop a specialized expertise in the history of the French Revolution.

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Theologian

The French Revolution had a profound impact on the French Catholic Church, and this course will introduce you to the key concepts and theories used to study this period. Taking this course can help you build a foundation in theology and develop skills in research, analysis, and writing. It may also help you develop a specialized expertise in the history of the French Revolution.

See salaries and explore the career path for Theologian

Philosopher

The French Revolution was a time of great philosophical debate and ferment, and this course will introduce you to the key ideas and works of this period. Taking this course can help you build a foundation in philosophy and develop skills in research, analysis, and writing. It may also help you develop a specialized expertise in the history of the French Revolution.

See salaries and explore the career path for Philosopher

Writer

The French Revolution was a time of great literary and artistic production, and this course will introduce you to the key ideas and works of this period. Taking this course can help you build a foundation in writing and develop skills in research, analysis, and writing. It may also help you develop a specialized expertise in the history of the French Revolution.

See salaries and explore the career path for Writer

Reading list

We've selected 15 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in The French Revolution.

Marie-Antoinette

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A comprehensive reference guide to the French Revolution, providing detailed information on key events, figures, and concepts.

The French Revolution

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What's inside

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Comprehensive overview of the french revolution

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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