In this excellent lecture provided by the Great Courses, Professor Jonathan Steinberg touches on the rise, genius, and legacy of Napoleon Bonaparte. Within the span of 30 minutes, Steinberg provides unique insight as to how Bonaparte modernized and stabilized France during a chaotic revolutionary era in the 1790s, rising from humble origins through sheer charismatic genius, innovative military precision, and unmatched leadership ability. As Professor Steinberg argues, the history of modern France is marked by a period before and after Napoleon permanently altered the landscape, and there may be no comparable figure with such a lasting legacy.