| Description |
This course offers a global history from an unusual perspective: that of the nations and empires ruled by monarchs and emperors (and sometimes empresses) across the years since the American and French revolutions, which are often seen as the events which ushered in the modern world of republicanism and democracy. To be sure, many thrones have crashed and crowns have passed away since then; but monarchies are still with us today, from Japan to Britain, Swaziland to Sweden. This course will explore both the anti-monarchical trends that have thrived since 1776 and 1789, but also the surprising extent of royal resilience. |