The French Revolution
Towards the end of the 18th century two major revolutions were to rock the modern world. The first was in America where the colonists rose up in revolt against British rule. The second was in France as members of the bourgeoisie rose up in revolt against King Louis XVI.
The French Revolution is a highly controversial affair because, for the first time, Marxist historians become rather eloquent. They claim that this revolt was a "Revolution of the Bourgeoisie", the first of such which would then pave the way for a greater revolution, the "Revolution of the Proletariate". We must consider the truth of this claim.
THE AGE OF THE ENLIGHTENMENT
Before we deal with the French Revolution, it is first necessary to consider the century of so which preceded it, commonly called "The Age of the Enlightenment". The"Little Ice Age" (which started in the 14th century) disappeared towards the middle of the 17th century, taking with it the accompanying madness. Europe at last came to its senses, stopped killing witches and began to put religion into real perspective.
The "politiques" had ushered in a system of Absolute Monarchy, kings and queens who held absolute power within their states by divine authority. Their philosophy also dictated that these absolute monarchs should also be "enlightened", i.e. should rule according to the norms of the "Enlightenment".
The emphasis was on reason and government for the good of the people. The ruler should not be a tyrant but should be one who understood his people, and governed sensibly.
Examples of such "Enlightened Despots" include Frederick the Great of Prussia, Joseph II of Austria and Catherine II of Russia, although the latter was really "enlightened" in name only.
Such wisdom, however, naturally ushered in new political philosophies which began to see that the monarchies should in fact become constitutional. It was all very well for an "Enlightened Despot" to rule well but what would happen if he or she was
The French Revolution is a highly controversial affair because, for the first time, Marxist historians become rather eloquent. They claim that this revolt was a "Revolution of the Bourgeoisie", the first of such which would then pave the way for a greater revolution, the "Revolution of the Proletariate". We must consider the truth of this claim.
THE AGE OF THE ENLIGHTENMENT
Before we deal with the French Revolution, it is first necessary to consider the century of so which preceded it, commonly called "The Age of the Enlightenment". The"Little Ice Age" (which started in the 14th century) disappeared towards the middle of the 17th century, taking with it the accompanying madness. Europe at last came to its senses, stopped killing witches and began to put religion into real perspective.
The "politiques" had ushered in a system of Absolute Monarchy, kings and queens who held absolute power within their states by divine authority. Their philosophy also dictated that these absolute monarchs should also be "enlightened", i.e. should rule according to the norms of the "Enlightenment".
The emphasis was on reason and government for the good of the people. The ruler should not be a tyrant but should be one who understood his people, and governed sensibly.
Examples of such "Enlightened Despots" include Frederick the Great of Prussia, Joseph II of Austria and Catherine II of Russia, although the latter was really "enlightened" in name only.
Such wisdom, however, naturally ushered in new political philosophies which began to see that the monarchies should in fact become constitutional. It was all very well for an "Enlightened Despot" to rule well but what would happen if he or she was