Historians of the French Revolution
The historiography of the French Revolution stretches back over two hundred years, as commentators and historians have used a vast array of primary sources to explain the origins of the Revolution, and its meaning and its impact. By the year 2000, many historians were saying that the field of the French Revolution was in intellectual disarray.
4 episodes
Episodes in this category also belong to the following categories:
HistoryPhilosophySocial philosophersPhilosophy writersPhilosophers of historyPhilosophers of culturePhilosophers of religionEnlightenment philosophersEnglish essayistsPhilosophers of educationPhilosophers of law18th-century philosophers20th-century atheistsPhilosophers of economicsWriters from ParisFrench Roman CatholicsNatural law ethicistsUniversity of Paris alumni19th-century atheistsFrench political philosophersPhilosophers of artPolitical philosophers20th-century essayistsAnti-consumeristsClassical liberalismEnglish travel writersMembers of the Académie FrançaiseVirtue ethicists18th-century English male writersAlumni of Trinity College DublinBritish philosophers of educationEnglish feminists, English feminist writersEnglish women novelistsFrench philosophers of historyWriters of Gothic fiction18th-century English writers19th-century French philosophersBritish political philosophersEnglish libertariansEnglish philosophersEnglish republicansFrench male non-fiction writersFrench philosophers of culture, French sociologistsIrish AnglicansScholars of feminist philosophy18th-century Anglo-Irish people, 18th-century Irish writers, 18th-century Irish male writers18th-century British essayists18th-century British philosophers18th-century English novelists19th-century essayists19th-century non-fiction writers from the Russian EmpireAnarchist writersAnglican philosophersBritish women essayistsConservatismCritics of deismEnglish UnitariansEnglish educational theoristsEnglish people of Irish descentEnglish women philosophersFounders of English schools and collegesGerman–English translatorsKnights of the Legion of HonourMembers of the Parliament of Great Britain for English constituencies, British MPs 1780–1784Russian atheistsStreathamitesWriters from Dublin (city)18th-century English historians18th-century English philosophers18th-century Irish philosophers19th-century French male writersBritish MPs 1774–1780British MPs 1790–1796, British MPs 1784–1790Burials at Novodevichy CemeteryBurials at St Pancras Old ChurchDeaths in childbirthEconomic sociologistsEmigrants from the Russian Empire to the United Kingdom, 19th-century philosophers from the Russian Empire, Russian communists, 20th-century Russian philosophers, Russian revolutionaries, Emigrants from the Russian Empire to SwitzerlandFeminist theoristsFrench political scientistsFrench political writersFrench–English translatorsGodwin familyHuman geographersIrish Freemasons, Irish people of English descent, Irish libertariansMembers of the International Workingmen's AssociationPeople from Somers Town, LondonRectors of the University of GlasgowRussian anarchists
Edmund Burke
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the work of the philosopher, politician and writer Edmund Burke, whose views on revolution in America and France were hugely influential.
3 June 2010
Featuring: Karen O'Brien, Richard Bourke, John Keane
PhilosophySocial philosophersPhilosophers of historyPhilosophers of religionPhilosophers of culturePhilosophers of education18th-century philosophersPhilosophers of economicsNatural law ethicistsPolitical philosophersPhilosophers of artVirtue ethicistsClassical liberalism18th-century English male writersAlumni of Trinity College DublinHistorians of the French Revolution18th-century English writersEnglish libertariansIrish AnglicansBritish political philosophersEnglish people of Irish descentWriters from Dublin (city)StreathamitesAnglican philosophersConservatismCritics of deismRectors of the University of GlasgowBritish MPs 1774–178018th-century English philosophers18th-century Irish philosophersMembers of the Parliament of Great Britain for English constituencies, British MPs 1780–178418th-century Anglo-Irish people, 18th-century Irish writers, 18th-century Irish male writersBritish MPs 1790–1796, British MPs 1784–1790Irish Freemasons, Irish people of English descent, Irish libertariansMary Wollstonecraft
Melvyn Bragg and guests John Mullan, Karen O'Brien and Barbara Taylor discuss the life and ideas of the pioneering British Enlightenment thinker Mary Wollstonecraft.
31 December 2009
Featuring: Karen O'Brien, John Mullan, Barbara Taylor
PhilosophyEnlightenment philosophersEnglish essayistsEnglish travel writersWriters of Gothic fictionEnglish women novelistsBritish philosophers of educationScholars of feminist philosophyHistorians of the French RevolutionEnglish philosophersEnglish republicansEnglish women philosophersEnglish UnitariansFounders of English schools and collegesGerman–English translators18th-century British philosophersEnglish educational theoristsBritish women essayists18th-century English novelists18th-century British essayistsBurials at St Pancras Old Church18th-century English historiansDeaths in childbirthFrench–English translatorsFeminist theoristsPeople from Somers Town, LondonGodwin familyEnglish feminists, English feminist writersPeter Kropotkin
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the life and ideas of the Russian prince who became an anarchist and who argued that mutual aid was the key to evolution not survival of the fittest
24 February 2022
Featuring: Ruth Kinna, Lee Dugatkin, Simon Dixon
HistorySocial philosophersPhilosophy writers20th-century atheists19th-century atheists20th-century essayistsAnti-consumeristsHistorians of the French Revolution19th-century essayists19th-century non-fiction writers from the Russian EmpireAnarchist writersRussian atheistsBurials at Novodevichy CemeteryHuman geographersMembers of the International Workingmen's AssociationRussian anarchistsEmigrants from the Russian Empire to the United Kingdom, 19th-century philosophers from the Russian Empire, Russian communists, 20th-century Russian philosophers, Russian revolutionaries, Emigrants from the Russian Empire to SwitzerlandTocqueville: Democracy in America
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Alexis de Tocqueville and his study of the American democratic system, written as an example to France of how democracy might develop there.
22 March 2018
Featuring: Robert Gildea, Susan-Mary Grant, Jeremy Jennings
HistoryPhilosophers of lawWriters from ParisUniversity of Paris alumniFrench Roman CatholicsNatural law ethicistsFrench political philosophersMembers of the Académie FrançaiseFrench philosophers of historyFrench male non-fiction writersHistorians of the French Revolution19th-century French philosophersKnights of the Legion of HonourFrench political scientistsFrench political writers19th-century French male writersEconomic sociologistsFrench philosophers of culture, French sociologists