The Spirit of Revolution: World History in the Year 1795

About this curriculum

In 1795, a revolutionary spirit was sweeping much of the globe, and it infused every aspect of life, from politics to religion, from science to art to literature and beyond. This book gives readers a global view of one year in history, illustrating how quickly and dramatically the world can change through both the actions of individuals and the collective power of a worldwide revolution in thought. What do you know about the year 1795? Can you name anything that happened then? Would you be surprised to learn that it was a pivotal year in many respects? A number of important events happened that year, and yet it is unlikely to be recognized as significant in most history books. This book offers a different view. The world in 1795 was profoundly affected by the recent revolutions in America and France. Across the globe, monarchies were facing pressure to transfer power to their nations’ citizens—a  concept that some governments embraced and others rejected harshly, forming alliances with one another against countries that adopted more moderate policies. But a revolu…