Napoleon Bonaparte's Affect On European Culture

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Historical Investigation A. Plan of the Investigation To what extent did Napoleon Bonaparte’s rise to power affect European culture as we currently know it, especially his attributions to law systems and various forms of politics? Different sources will be used to look at Napoleon’s influences and his direct attributions made in European society. From one aspect, Napoleon made Europe realize that the rule of Royalty and Aristocracy was dead. He opened their eyes to the ideals of democracy and the free world. He exhibited unbridled power and found that he too, like many before him, wanted to rule the world. B. Summary of Evidence • He was responsible for the spreading of the liberalizing ideas of the French Revolution throughout Europe, which help to bring an end to the remnants of feudal systems still existing in parts of Central and Eastern Europe. • Even though he was an Emperor, he actually started the demise of kingdoms and royalty. • Napoleon’s legacy is quite complex because he was the embodiment of the Enlightenment on one hand, and on the other, he inspired fear. • He contributed to the resurgence of conservatism, the growth of nationalism, and the rise of a new phenomenon, romanticism. This deadly trio led to two world wars. • It is true that he implemented some revolutionary institutions, but one should not overlook the fact that he also had every one of them only to satisfy his own desire. • If nothing else, Napoleon suspended the status quo for a brief moment of time, giving all Europeans a temporary glimpse at the future direction of European society and the forces that would eventually shape it. • It’s only after his military defeat and banishment that the European aristocratic restoration began in earnest. A restoration which it self relied upon force of arms to squash the spirit of independence which had
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