Napoleon's Impact on Europe

Napoleon Bonaparte was a colossus of a combatant that conquered almost all of Europe under the new French flag, and a man who is known across the world as both a ruthless conqueror and a brilliant leader.  Napoleon, who brought an end to the monarchical traditions of the western powers, influenced  not only Europe, but the entire world.

Napoleon was a product of revolution.  His rise to power began as he commanded highly successful artillery units during the rebellion of the people against the French government.  After the reign of terror, the French wanted someone powerful, but also someone who wouldn't kill everyone who spoke out against him.  Napoleon was perfect for the job.

The original plan was that Napoleon would be used to expand French borders, but as shrewd as he was, Napoleon was able to declare himself emperor and dispose of the directory that planned to use him for their own advantage.  Napoleon strengthened the French economy by encouraging business and growth, building canals, roads, and schools.  This allowed for the lower classes to have more access to education as well as a better chance to advance in the world.

Napoleon established a meritocracy, rewarding skills and talents rather than status and social class, which allowed people of all groups and sects to become who they wanted to be as long as they were good at it, and began a new way of thinking that focused more on what someone did than what family they came from.

Napoleon's impact on Europe and the American system flourishing, countries all over the world began to embrace new ways of thinking.  Some were violent, disposing of the old government and placing a new one in its place, and others were peaceful, and advocated for change without necessarily destroying the government.  Their successes and failures are why the world looks the way it does today, and why Napoleon's impact on Europe affected the whole world.