The French Revolution was a bloody fight for liberty, equality and fraternity. But it was also a battle over money.
In part two of our series on the French Revolution, host Robin Wigglesworth tackles the transformation of France’s monetary system with Rebecca Spang, historian and author of Stuff and Money in the Time of the French Revolution.
As the country descended into war, political turmoil and the Reign of Terror, the experiment with the currency known as the Assignat became increasingly troubled. Robin and Rebecca examine why trust in money matters. Plus, did the revolution’s economic turmoil pave the way for Napoleon Bonaparte’s rise to power?
Further reading:
Stuff and Money in the Time of the French Revolution by Rebecca L Spang
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Hosts: Robin Wigglesworth
Senior producer: Michela Tindera
Executive producer: Kate Ford
Original music and sound design: Breen Turner
Video editor: Michael Saliba
Podcast development: Laura Clarke
FT global head of audio: Flo Phillips
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Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com
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