Originally published on March 4, 2024 (Episode 350)
Introduction
From the 1760s into the 1830s, waves of revolutions rolled up upon the shores of the Atlantic World, confusing or destroying entrenched political and social hierarchies, and ushering in a new era of democratic rule. These were headlined by the American and French Revolutions, but no less important were the Haitian Revolution, uprisings in the Andes, rebellions in Italy, and independence movements across the Spanish and Portuguese empires in the Americas.
It was a period of unprecedented and—perhaps—unmatched political, economic, social, and artistic upheaval. This is the canvas for Nathan Perl-Rosenthal in his new book
About the Guest
Nathan Perl-Rosenthal is Professor of History at the University of Southern California. His work spans the political and cultural history of the Atlantic World. His first book was Citizen Sailors: Becoming American in the Age of Revolution (Harvard, 2015).
For Further Investigation
Nathan Perl-Rosenthal, The Age of Revolutions–And the Generations Who Made It (Basic Books, 2024)
—, Citizen Sailors: Becoming American in the Age of Revolution (Harvard, 2015)
R.R. Palmer, The Age of the Democratic Revolution: A Political History of Europe and America, 1760-1800, Updated Edition (Princeton, 2014)—a classic touchstone of this field
Related Episodes
David Bell on “Men on Horseback”
Micah Alpaugh on revolutionary tactics and adaptations in “The Great Atlantic Freedom Conspiracy”
Jonathan Singerton on “The American Revolution in Habsburg Lands”
💬 Listen & Discuss
Were the Atlantic Revolutions one movement with many expressions, or separate upheavals connected only by coincidence? Share your take in the comments—and pass this episode along to someone who thinks “revolution” begins and ends with 1776 or 1789.
