ABSTRACT
The question of social militarization as a consequence of state centralization has been examined in relation to the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, and the late nineteenth century.1 In particular, these discussions focused upon Prussian and later German militarization leading to World War I. Yet, the period of the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars stands at the crossroads of the two eras – straddling the centuries from the neo-classical to industrial society. It has been acknowledged that this period, 1789-1815, marked a significant point of departure for Western civilization on numerous levels. A question, however, remains: To what extent did the enormous military demands upon European society serve to alter the perception of conscription and the role of the army?
