The Long 19th Century: European History from 1789 to 1917

Few periods of history offer such captivating complexity as Europe in the long 19th century between 1789 and 1914. From the idealism of the French Revolution to the power of the Industrial Revolution to the chaos of World War I, this fascinating whirl of events, personalities, and forces formed the foundation for the modern world. Over the course of 36 engaging lectures Professor Weiner leads you on a spirited journey across an ever-changing European landscape, examining the forces and personalities that reshaped the continent's physical borders, diplomatic relationships, and balance of power. Assuming no prior knowledge of this era and no professional vocabulary, he explores this turbulent and important era with interest, curiosity, and passion. You'll look at what the transition to modernity meant for peasants, workers, the middle class, aristocrats, women, and minorities. And you'll consider the political and diplomatic moves of the great powers - Great Britain, France, Germany, Austria-Hungary, Russia, and Italy - in the context of the deeper economic, social, and cultural forces at work and how they reflect the impact of some of history's most significant names, including Napoleon Bonaparte, Otto von Bismarck, and Kaiser Wilhelm II. With this ambitious look at the evolution of the environment that ultimately made World War I possible, Professor Weiner explores more than factual history - the dates, battles, and treaties. He repeatedly steps back from on-the-ground events to clarify historical trends or patterns, providing a comprehensive look at this engaging era.

All Lectures:
1. The Long 19th Century
2. The Legacy of the Past - The Old Regime
3. The Age of Revolution, 1789 - 1848
4. The French Revolution
5. The Napoleonic Era, 1799 - 1815
6. The First Industrial Revolution, 1760 - 1850
7. The Era of Metternich, 1815 - 1848
8. The Revolutions of 1848
9. Europe, 1850 - 1871 - An Overview
10. The Crimean War, 1853 - 1856
11. From Napoleon to Napoleon - France, 1815 - 1852
12. Napoleon III - An Evaluation
13. Italy on the Eve - An Overview
14. Cavour and Napoleon III - "Unifying" Italy
15. Germany on the Eve
16. Age of Bismarck - Creating the German Empire
17. The British Way
18. The Russian Experience, 1789 - 1881
19. The Apogee of Europe, 1870 - 1914
20. The Industrialization of Europe
21. The Socialist Response
22. The Longest Hatred - European Anti-Semitism
23. England, 1868 - 1914 - Liberalism to Democracy
24. The Third Republic - France, 1870 - 1914
25. Bismarckian and Wilhelminian Germany
26. Flawed States - Austria-Hungary and Italy
27. Russia, Turkey, and the Balkans
28. Bismarck Dominates Europe, 1870 - 1890
29. The "New" Imperialism
30. The Diplomacy of Imperialism, 1890 - 1907
31. Europe in Crisis, 1908 - 1914 - Outbreak of War
32. The Origins of World War I
33. The Great War - A Military Overview
34. The Home Front During Total War
35. The Impact of World War I - New World Disorder
36. Looking Back, Thinking Ahead