Lectures on the French Revolution

These lectures offer a vivid, scholarly portrait of the French Revolution as a turning point born of deep‑rooted social and intellectual forces. Drawing on the wealth of fiscal data, political theory, and contemporary writings, the speaker traces how the surge in national income and the rise of a productive middle class exposed the stark inequities of the ancien régime, prompting demands for merit‑based governance and broader participation.

The series also maps the evolution of revolutionary ideas, from early Jansenist and Enlightenment thinkers who championed reason, natural law, and the sovereignty of the people, to the theological and legal arguments that underpinned calls for reform. By weaving together economic facts, philosophical currents, and the voices of early critics, the lectures illuminate why the upheaval was less a sudden explosion than the culmination of longstanding pressures. Listeners will come away with a nuanced understanding of the forces that set the stage for one of history’s most transformative eras.