The French Revolution was a period of significant social and political upheaval in France, driven by a combination of economic, social, and political factors. Economic causes such as state debt, extravagant spending by the monarchy, and rising bread prices, coupled with social inequality and political mismanagement, led to widespread discontent among the Third Estate. The revolution saw the fall of the Bastille, the Reign of Terror, and the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte, ultimately resulting in the establishment of the Consulate and significant reforms in French society.