History
Schools and colleges
Explore the past and bring it to life. Portsmouth is a city that's been central to key historical events for many centuries.
Below, our academics have created a series of online taster lectures to help your students with their A level History revision.
Jump to lecture
Origins of the French Revolution
The French Revolution was one of the most violent and politically rippling events of the eighteenth century. Professor David Andress considers the reasons why the revolution began, the key players involved, and its lasting legacy.
The Terror in the French Revolution
The Terror continues to be one of the most captivating events of the French Revolution.
Here, Professor David Andress considers what ‘Terror’ was within its eighteenth century context, and talks about why the Reign of Terror became the violent and all-consuming machine during 1793-1794.
The Directory: France 1795-1799
Sandwiched between the events of the Terror and the rise of Napoleon, the premiership of the Directory is often marginalised, or at worst forgotten during the wider history of France in revolution.
Professor David Andress explores the foundations, governance, and downfall of the Directory, and how it ultimately led to the reign of Napoleon.
Napoleon: Genius of Megalomaniac?
Napoleon Bonaparte is one of the most fascinating figures of history. Few men have ever raised themselves from such comparative obscurity to such dazzling heights, and fewer have engendered such continual controversy.
We explore Napoleon’s rise, success, decline, fall, and legacy.
