The Great Revolutions of Modern History
Overview
Course No. 8300
Explore 300 years of world-changing revolutions – from political upheavals to social transformations – that shaped our modern era.
Professor Lynne Ann Hartnett guides you through 24 illuminating lectures examining:
- What drives societies to revolt
- How revolutions succeed or fail
- The human cost and lasting impact of radical change
- Non-violent movements that transformed nations
From America to Iran, from industrial upheavals to civil rights, discover how revolutionary forces continue to shape our world.
Video Lessons
Political Revolutions (1-10)
- Who Makes a Revolution? (28 min) – The anatomy of upheaval
- Nationalism’s Power (33 min) – France to Italy
- Mexican Revolution (31 min) – Zapata, Villa and myths
- Russian Revolution (31 min) – Kerensky’s lost chance
- Glorious Revolution (30 min) – England’s bloodless change
- American Revolution (34 min) – Samuel Adams’ rebellion
- French Revolution (32 min) – Liberty to terror
- Haiti’s Tragedy (34 min) – First black republic’s struggle
Social & Cultural Revolutions (11-20)
- Industrial Revolution (32 min) – Technology transforms society
- Decembrist Wives (31 min) – Russia’s revolutionary women
- Women’s Suffrage (31 min) – Global fight for voting rights
- Gandhi’s Way (32 min) – Non-violence in India
- Counterculture (33 min) – 1960s cultural rebellion
- Anti-Apartheid (34 min) – South Africa’s long fight
20th Century Upheavals (13-24)
- China’s Transformation (33 min) – Qing fall to Mao
- Mao’s China (32 min) – Communist experiments
- Cuba’s Revolution (32 min) – Castro and Che
- 1968 Global Protests (32 min) – Youth in revolt
- Terrorism’s Role (33 min) – Violent revolution
- Iran’s Islamic Revolt (31 min) – Theocracy rises
- 1989 Changes (33 min) – Soviet collapse
- TV Revolution (29 min) – Media transforms society

