The Age of Revolution, spanning from the late 18th to the mid-19th centuries, was a pivotal period that dramatically transformed Europe and the Americas, leading to a shift from absolutist monarchies towards representative governments and the emergence of nation-states. Fueled by Enlightenment ideals, the American Revolution (1765–1783) served as a catalyst, inspiring the French Revolution of 1789 and its subsequent spread across Europe by figures like Napoleon Bonaparte. While Napoleon's conquests introduced modern concepts, they also ignited national rebellions.
Following Napoleon's defeat, the Congress of Vienna (1814–15) attempted to restore previous monarchies, yet the revolutionary spirit persisted. This led to widespread independence movements in Latin America between 1810 and 1820, and subsequent revolutionary waves across Europe in 1820, 1830, and 1848—the latter famously known as the "Spring of Nations." These movements championed democratic demands, national unification, and self-determination. Though many were violently suppressed, this era, popularized by historian Eric Hobsbawm, profoundly reshaped global politics and laid the groundwork for modern states.