Revolutions & Empires (1700–1918)
From the Enlightenment to the end of the First World War: the revolutions, empires, ideas and wars that made the modern world, explained in five minutes each.
French Revolution Timeline 1789–1799
The French Revolution ran from 1789 to 1799. It began with a royal debt crisis and ended with Napoleon Bonaparte's coup, but in between France …
Causes of the French Revolution
The causes of the French Revolution were debt, unfair taxes, bad harvests, new ideas and a political deadlock. France's state ran out of money after …
The French Revolution Explained (1789–1799)
The French Revolution (1789–1799) was a turbulent period in which France overthrew its absolute monarchy, ended feudal privileges and tried to build a republic based …
Montesquieu: The Spirit of the Laws and the Separation of Powers
Montesquieu was an 18th-century French judge and writer who argued that power must be divided so that no one person or body can abuse it. …
Who Was John Locke? Life, Ideas and Influence
John Locke (1632–1704) was an English philosopher who argued that knowledge comes from experience and that governments rest on the consent of the governed. His …
Rousseau's The Social Contract Explained
Jean-Jacques Rousseau published The Social Contract in 1762. The book asks how people can live under laws and remain free. His answer: only laws that …
Locke, Montesquieu and Rousseau: How Their Ideas Differ
Three Enlightenment thinkers, John Locke, Montesquieu and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, all asked what makes a government legitimate. Locke said power rests on the consent of the …
The Enlightenment Explained: Ideas, Thinkers and Legacy
The Enlightenment was an 18th-century European movement that trusted reason and evidence over tradition and authority. Its thinkers, from Locke to Kant, argued for natural …
World History 1700–1918: Revolutions, Industry, Empire and War
Between 1700 and 1918, revolutions, factories, empires and a world war reshaped societies across Europe, the Americas, Asia and Africa. This guide connects the big …
Who Was Napoleon Bonaparte: A Journey from Corsica to Immortal Legacy
Discover the extraordinary life of Napoleon Bonaparte, from his Corsican origins to becoming Emperor of France.
Napoleon Bonaparte Height: Unraveling the Myth
Discover the truth about Napoleon Bonaparte height and how British propaganda created one of history most enduring myths.
Battle of Waterloo: A Turning Point in European History
The Battle of Waterloo was more than just a military engagement; it marked the end of one era and the beginning of another in European …