The Napoleonic Era

A condensed, point-by-point summary of the module, for reviewing right before a test or exam.

1. Napoleon's Rise: From Corsican Artillery Officer to Emperor. Napoleon rose from a young artillery officer to First Consul in 1799 and crowned himself Emperor in 1804.
2. The Napoleonic Code and the Reshaping of French Institutions. The Civil Code of 1804 spread revolutionary legal principles across Europe while curbing women's rights.
3. Napoleon at the Height of His Power: Austerlitz, Trafalgar, and Tilsit (1805-1807). Victories at Austerlitz, Jena, and Friedland made Napoleon master of continental Europe by 1807.
4. The Continental Blockade and the 'Spanish Ulcer'. The Peninsular War and the failing Continental Blockade drained French strength for years.
5. The Invasion of Russia (1812). The 1812 invasion of Russia destroyed the Grande Armée and shattered Napoleon's aura of invincibility.
6. The Fall of Napoleon: Coalition, Waterloo, and Exile. Defeat at Leipzig, exile to Elba, the Hundred Days, and final defeat at Waterloo ended Napoleon's rule.
7. The Congress of Vienna: Principles and the Redrawing of Europe. Diplomats meeting at Vienna in 1814-1815 redrew Europe's map on legitimacy, balance, and compensation.
8. The Concert of Europe: The Holy Alliance, the Congress System, and Its Limits. The Holy Alliance and a system of congresses tried to police revolution, but cracked apart by 1830.