The Making of the West: People and Cultures - Essay Example

Napoleon established a new social hierarchy system. This was different from what prevailed in the time of his predecessors. His new social hierarchy was based on talent and he chose the ablest generals, scientists, wealthy men, and former nobles as senators. He also introduced a new system of hierarchy of noble titles. These titles could be inherited but they also had to be supported with wealth. Able and favored generals were often rewarded with estates in conquered territories. He also appointed his sons to exotic positions. His most impressive and long last achievement was the introduction of the Civil Code also called Napoleonic Code which was completed in 1804.  The code of property rights, religious freedom, and uniform laws of Freedom provided equal treatment for adult males but reduced the rights of women, children, and employees.

            In the battleground, he went way beyond his predecessors. He did not imply that in war, the leader must memorize all the details of past wars and emulate the completely, for instance, those fought by Alexander, Hannibal, Ceasar, Turenne, and Frederick the Great. Napoleon was not a greater innovator than a soldier himself. Infact, he did not trust ideas, precisely why he disbanded the balloon companies inherited from the Armies of the Revolution and rejected Rover Fulton’s offer of submarines and naval mines. His genius essentially lay in the practicality of his ideas, and his military concepts were greatly inspired by a closer study of his earlier predecessors especially Frederick the Great. He completely capitalized on the ideas of these predecessors and breathed more life into them.  The army that he created was sizable but very high on morale and loyalty to Napoleon. His mere presence on the battlefield was considered to be worth 50,000 troops; such was his aura amongst his men. Once the French Armies had been reorganized he won remarkable victories against Austrians at Marengo and Hohenlinden and agreed to the Treaty of Amiens in 1802. He went on to win Prussia, Russia, and Italy. He introduced a lot of reforms in these countries which were aimed at improving the quality of life therein.

His army tactics were a combination of the Royal Army with some revolutionary Improvisation. He depended on speed, mass, and aggressiveness. He would normally attack one wing of the enemy, preferably the one nearer to the communications. It was only in Austria that he lured his enemies into a trap. Thus strategies and tactics used by Napolean were a combination of his predecessors and some improvisations by himself.