This course offers a comparative history of a historical phenomenon: revolution. Throughout the semester, this class will consider multiple modern revolutions across the globe. It will begin with an exploration of the political theory of the Enlightenment, before considering specific revolutions, including but not limited to the American, French, Haitian, Mexican, and Russian. Besides comparing and contrasting various revolutions, this course will ask a number of questions related to revolutionary change, including what causes revolutions? Who makes a revolution? What leads to success or failure in a revolutionary situation? How should we define conceptions such as democracy, freedom, and liberty?
HIS 220: Comparative Revolutions
Class Program