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The Napoleonic Wars brought great changes to Europe. Though Napoleon brought most of Western Europe under his rule (a feat not seen since the days of the Roman Empire), a state of constant warfare between France and the combined other major powers of Europe for over two decades finally took its toll. By the end of the Napoleonic Wars, France no longer held the role of the dominant power in Europe, as it had since the times of Louis XIV. The United Kingdom emerged as one of the most powerful countries in the world, effectively becoming the first real hyperpower. The British Royal Navy held unquestioned naval superiority throughout the world, and Britain's industrial economy made it the most powerful commercial country as well.
n most European countries, the importation of the ideals of the French Revolution (democracy, due process in courts, abolition of privileges, etc.) left a mark. European monarchs found it difficult to restore pre-revolutionary absolutism, and had perforce to keep some of the reforms brought about during Napoleon's rule. Institutional legacies have remained to this day: many European countries have a civil-law legal system, with clearly redacted codes compiling their basic laws — an enduring legacy of the Napoleonic Code. A relatively new and increasingly powerful movement became significant. Nationalism would shape the course of much of future European history; its growth spelled the beginning of some nations and states and the end of others. The map of Europe changed dramatically in the hundred years following the Napoleonic Era, based not on fiefs and aristocracy, but on the perceived basis of human culture, national origins, and national ideology. Bonaparte's reign over Europe sowed the seeds for the founding of the nation-states of Germany and Italy by starting the process of consolidating city-states, kingdoms and principalities. Another concept emerged — that of Europe. Napoleon mentioned on several occasions his intention to create a single European state, and although his defeat set the thought of a unified Europe back over one-and-a-half centuries, the idea re-emerged after the end of the Second World War.

2007-03-01 00:25:39 · answer #1 · answered by ericbryce2 7 · 0 0

The year 1815 led to a new era in the history of Europe. The fall of Napoleon allowed for a period of relative peace and cooperation between European nations. Moreover, the industrial revolution raised the standard of living of Western European nations. This in turn led to a change in social philosophy including the need for programs of assistance for the poor improved education and the abolishment of slavery.

2007-03-01 00:31:26 · answer #2 · answered by b_steeley 6 · 0 0

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2016-10-02 03:53:46 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

I can't even make sense of that question.

2007-03-01 00:22:28 · answer #4 · answered by Steve H 5 · 0 0

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The Battle of Waterloo
A Timeline: 1769-1815Napoleon: The Transformation of Europe, 1769-1815Napoleon's story is one of astounding personal and political success, followed by an almost equally dramatic downfall. Born into minor nobility in 1769 in Corsica, he was educated at French military schools. He served in the French army, and devoted much time to studying military strategy and tactics. Through ability and patronage, Napoleon rose quickly through the ranks, becoming brigadier general at the age of 24. He supported the French Revolution (1787-1799) and put down a royalist rebellion in 1795. Two years later he organized a coup, removing several royalists from power. During these years he also defeated Austrian forces repeatedly, culminating in the "brilliant" Treaty of Campo Formio. Napoleon's reputation as a gifted military strategist grew.

The French government wanted him to invade England in 1797, but instead, Napoleon invaded Egypt the following year, having persuaded the government that it would threaten British access to India. After initial success, Napoleon's fleet was completely destroyed by Admiral Horatio Nelson in the Battle of the Nile. Finding himself land-bound, Napoleon introduced Western political institutions and technical skills to Egypt. In response to the invasion of Egypt, over which Turkey was a nominal suzerain, Turkey declared war on France. Napoleon marched into Syria in early 1799, but met with strong British resistance and was forced into a disastrous retreat into Egypt.

Inspired by the Battle of the Nile, Great Britain, Austria, Russia and Turkey allied against France. Combined with another royalist uprising, these events prompted Napoleon to leave his troops and return to Paris in 1799. Late that year, a coup d'état resulted in Napoleon becoming the First Consul of France, the ruler of a new military dictatorship.

In 1800, following several years of conflict, France signed a peace treaty with Great Britain. Presented with the opportunity to institute many reforms in France, the decisive, energetic and exceedingly ambitious Napoleon wasted no time.

While he was not an especially religious person, he recognized the value of a peaceful relationship with the Roman Catholic Church and in 1801, signed a Concordat with Pope Pius VII. He also promoted religious tolerance toward Protestants and Jews.

In 1802, Napoleon held a referendum and was declared Consul for life. He implemented a set of civil laws, the Napoleonic Code, which exerted extremely wide influence throughout Europe and the Americas; more than 70 states throughout the world ultimately adopted the Code or based their laws on it. The Code, enacted in 1804, included many important concepts, such as equality before the law, no recognition for noble rights, freedom of religion, and separation of church and state. Despite its many advances, however, the Code still deeply subordinated women and enshrined laws favouring landowners and employers. Napoleon also undertook many reforms to France's educational, financial, and administrative systems. During this period, Napoleon also sold a huge tract of land in North America to the United States (the Louisiana Purchase), realizing he could not manage to defend this territory.

A dispute over Malta erupted in 1803, prompting Britain to declare war on France; the British also threw their support behind the French royalists who continued to oppose Napoleonic rule. In 1804, concerns about succession, along with evidence of assassination plots and conspiracies against the Consul for life, prompted Napoleon to transform his consulate into a hereditary empire, and he had himself crowned Emperor by the Pope.

In 1805, combined French-Spanish efforts to defeat the British Royal Navy in the Battle of Trafalgar were disastrous for France. Britain ruled the waters, though it was in this battle that Horatio Nelson died. Napoleon now faced yet another coalition against him and successfully fought Russia and Austria at Austerlitz. In 1806, he crushed the Prussian Army and effectively became the ruler of most of Germany. After routing the Russians in 1807, Napoleon continued his military campaign into Poland. Alexander I, the Russian tsar, weary of the Russian-British alliance, signed treaties with Napoleon that effectively divided Europe between Russia and France. Two years later, Napoleon annexed the Papal States.

Since the invasion of England seemed impossible, Napoleon promoted a continental boycott of Britain. A long-time British ally, Portugal resisted this boycott, since it would mean economic disaster for that country. Napoleon invaded Spain, and made his brother Joseph its king—but the Spanish revolted and Napoleon was unable to put down the revolt. Britain then invaded Spain through Portugal and drove out the French. At the same time, Austria attacked Germany, but was ultimately defeated in 1809.

Napoleon sought Russia's support but the tsar no longer trusted the French dictator, so in 1812, Napoleon invaded Russia. The Russian army retreated, and by the time Napoleon reached Moscow in early September, the city had been abandoned. Alexander I was unwilling to deal with Napoleon and the French dictator was forced into withdrawal, which was complicated by an early winter. Napoleon's initial force of 600,000 men had been reduced to fewer than 10,000 men fit for combat. Upon his return, Napoleon faced a Sixth Coalition (Britain, Russia, Spain, Portugal, Prussia, Austria, Sweden and some smaller German states) in the Battle of Leipzig (also known as "The Battle of the Nations"), the largest conflict of the Napoleonic Wars and one of the dictator's most disastrous defeats.

By 1814, many Europeans were gathering the courage to oppose the dictator, and Napoleon faced another alliance against him—this time composed of Great Britain, Russia, Austria and Prussia. While the French won many of the ensuing battles, the alliance managed to occupy Paris on the last day of March 1814. Napoleon, asked to abdicate, passed the title to his son. The Allies insisted on an unconditional surrender, and five days after his initial abdication, Napoleon complied. He was exiled to Elba, a tiny Mediterranean island off Italy. He was permitted to retain the title of Emperor but now his empire was only Elba. An attempt at suicide through poisoning failed, and he also survived an assassination attempt en route to Elba.

The royalists had resumed power and restored King Louis XVIII to the throne, despite the lack of enthusiasm of the French people for the return of the Bourbons. Prompted by concerns about his family and rumours that he was to be banished to an even more remote island, Napoleon escaped from Elba to France in early 1815. France dispatched armies to intercept him, but instead, they greeted him as their leader. Accompanied by regular soldiers and volunteers, he returned to Paris in three weeks. Napoleon then commenced his Hundred Days of rule, the King having fled a week earlier. His rule, however, was barely distinguishable from the King's, and popular support quickly flagged.

During this time Napoleon faced further military action from the British-Russian-Austrian-Prussian alliance, which culminated in the battle of Waterloo on June 18, 1815. After he lost at Waterloo—a conquest so decisive that "Waterloo" is internationally synonymous with defeat—Napoleon was again forced to abdicate and exiled to the island of Saint Helena in October 1815. He died there in 1821, and though he had asked to be buried on the banks of the Seine, he was interred on Saint Helena. Following his gradual rehabilitation as a French hero, he was exhumed in 1840 and entombed in Les Invalides in Paris.

Ultimately, the many years of war and invasion did not gain any territory for France. However, the European political map had been simplified over time, and the decades of conflict ironically stimulated national unification, particularly in Germany and Italy. Often described as an "enlightened despot," Napoleon's many reforms and institutions had enduring and pervasive influence both in France and throughout the Continent, indeed, in the case of the Napoleonic Code, throughout the world. Two hundred years later, his legend and legacy persist, and while his statesmanship is debatable, few dispute his reputation as one of the greatest military leaders in history.

2007-03-01 00:25:27 · answer #5 · answered by joey h 3 · 0 0

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