The
French Revolution ( ) was a period of far-reaching social and political upheaval in
France that lasted from 1789 until 1799, and was partially carried forward by
Napoleon during the later expansion of the
French Empire. The Revolution overthrew the monarchy, established a republic, experienced violent periods of political turmoil, and finally culminated in a dictatorship under Napoleon that rapidly brought many of its principles to Western Europe and beyond. Inspired by liberal and radical ideas, the Revolution profoundly altered the course of
modern history, triggering the global decline of
absolute monarchies while replacing them with
republics and
liberal democracies. Through the
Revolutionary Wars, it unleashed a wave of global conflicts that extended from the
Caribbean to the
Middle East. Historians widely regard the Revolution as one of the most important events in
human history.