The French Revolution
The University of Melbourne
À propos de ce cours
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.
View the MOOC promotional video here: http://tinyurl.com/gstw4vv
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
1
Section
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.
7 videos (Total 106 min), 4 readings, 1 quiz
7 videos
1.1 An Introduction to the French Revolution14m
1.2 The Essentials of Eighteenth-Century France14m
1.3 The First & Second Estates: Clergy and Nobility24m
1.4 Paris and the Provinces9m
1.5 The 'Enlightenment': 'from above'18m
1.6 The 'Enlightenment': 'from below'21m
4 readings
Course Overview10m
Your teaching team10m
Start of course survey10m
France in the 1780s40m
1 practice exercises
Week one quiz - 12% of final grade10m
2
Section
Week 2 - The Revolution of 1789
This week we look at the Revolution of 1789 and its causes. We will explore the tensions and conflicts that led to the crisis of the Old Regime. The focus will be on the Third Estate and the revolt of the bourgeoisie, the 'menu peuple' and the peasantry. We will look at the Declaration of the Rights of Man and citizen and you will be asked to reflect on its 'universal' significance.
6 videos (Total 68 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz
6 videos
2.2 A fiscal crisis and its repercussions12m
2.3 The Third Estate in revolt: bourgeoisie and menu people13m
2.4 The Third Estate in revolt: the peasantry11m
2.5 The Declaration of the Rights of Man and the August Decrees11m
2.6 The October Days - the end of the Revolution?9m
1 readings
The Revolution of 178950m
1 practice exercises
Week two quiz - 12% of final grade10m
3
Section
Week 3 - The Reconstruction of France, 1789-92
Week three of this MOOC deals with the reforms introduced in 1789-91. We look at the institutional and administrative reorganisation of France. We will then consider three critical turning points of the Revolution: the Civil Constitution of the Clergy, the King's attempted flight in 1791 and the outbreak of war in 1792. Finally we will look at the fate of the King and the ultimate failure of the monarchy. You will be asked to reflect on the immediate effects and longer-term consequences of these events.
6 videos (Total 63 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz
6 videos
3.2 The Revolution divides8m
3.3 Turning-point 1: Church reform10m
3.4 Turning-point 2: the King's flight June 179112m
3.5 Turning-point 3: The outbreak of war April 17929m
3.6 A second revolution: 10 August 17929m
1 readings
Reform, conflict, and a second Revolution, 1789-179250m
1 practice exercises
Week three quiz - 12% of final grade10m
4
Section
Week 4 - The Republic in crisis 1792-93
Week four deals with the crisis of the Republic in 1792-93. We will examine the conflicts and disunity within the National Convention and consider the balance between revolutionary and counter-revolutionary forces by mid-1793. We will explore the civil war in the Vendee region of Western France and attempt to make sense of the growing revolutionary violence. We will look at the origins of the 'Terror', its institutions and its ideology, and students will be asked to reflect more broadly on the role of violence during the Revolution.
10 videos (Total 130 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz
10 videos
4.2 September 1792: republican unity and disunity in the National Convention11m
4.3 Revolution and counter-revolution: the balance of forces10m
4.4 The crisis of 179311m
4.5 Emergency measures: the implementation of 'terror'17m
4.6 How to end 'terror', December 17937m
Interview with Dr Marisa Linton 11m
Interview with Professor Timothy Tackett16m
Interview with Professor Ian Germani 17m
Interview with Charles Walton15m
1 readings
The crisis of 1792-1793: war and terror40m
1 practice exercises
Week four quiz - 12% of final grade10m
5
Section
Week 5 - Ending the Terror and Ending the Revolution
This week we look at the ideology and culture of the 'Terror' and the nature of the Jacobin and sans-culottes alliance. We will consider possible explanations for the increasing intensity of revolutionary violence and ask whether such violence was a proportionate, emergency response to the growing counter-revolutionary threat. This module also deals with the end of the 'Terror', and the overthrow of Robespierre and the ensuing 'Thermidorian reaction'. Finally we look at the 'settlement' of 1795 and ask whether the Revolution was indeed over.
6 videos (Total 72 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz
6 videos
5.2 The ideology and culture of the Terror13m
5.3 The Jacobin and sans-culottes alliance12m
5.4 Emergency measures or revolutionary violence?11m
5.5 Thermidor Year II - 27 July 179410m
5.6 The 'settlement' of 1795: the end of the Revolution?15m
1 readings
Ending the terror, ending the revolution, 1794-179940m
1 practice exercises
Week five quiz - 12% of final grade10m
6
Section
Week 6 - Change and continuity: How revolutionary was the Revolution?
This final week of the course offers you the opportunity to reflect broadly on the significance of the Revolution. We begin by looking at Napoleon Bonaparte and the Restoration of the monarchy in 1814-15. We then consider the ways in which the revolutionary experience affected the lives of women and slaves. We will discuss the Revolution's global implications and ask whether or not 1789 can be understood more broadly, as part of an international 'Age of Revolution'. Finally we explore the 'minimalist' and 'maximalist' approaches to the significance of the Revolution and you will be asked to reflect on the impact of the Revolution on the lives of French citizens.
7 videos (Total 100 min), 3 readings, 1 quiz
7 videos
6.2 The 'minimalist' approach to the signifance of the Revolution12m
6.3 Who is a citizen? The experience of women16m
6.4 Who is a citizen? The experience of slaves12m
6.5 The international repercussions: a global crisis?12m
6.6 The 'maximalist' approach: the turning-point of the modern world23m
Assignment video7m
3 readings
The significance of the French Revolution30m
Academic integrity10m
End of course survey10m
4.8
Top Reviews
By AK•Aug 11th 2017
Well-structured course that explores the topic with depth and clarity, taught by a brilliant and engaging professor. Would recommend to anyone interested in the French and world history
By SB•Apr 19th 2016
The course is very well prepared and structured, the information provided is clear and concise, Prof. McPhee's teaching style is very adequate to the MOOC approach. Highly recommended!
Instructor
Peter McPhee
Honorary, Melbourne Graduate School of EducationAbout The University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is an internationally recognised research intensive University with a strong tradition of excellence in teaching, research, and community engagement. Established in 1853, it is Australia's second oldest University.
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