ABSTRACT
The French Revolution is studied and interpreted as an example of how societies change, how ideas take shape and how historical events produce a chain of events with far-reaching effects. The ways in which historians interpret the French Revolution often serve as models for the understanding of other great historical events. The classical and the revisionist approaches, and political history were followed by the ‘third way’ of interpreting the revolution. Historians agree that the revolution was a major crisis in France’s history, but they are looking for ways of understanding the origins and impact of 1789 as more than just a political event. There is also more research on the influence of various political factions and their support network. Interpretations of the French Revolution today are far more diverse because they take a complex range of issues into account. The revolution was a complicated process with a high loss of life and much suffering.
