What pivotal event is often marked by the storming of the Bastille?

The storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789, is widely regarded as the event that signified the beginning of the French Revolution. This fortress, which had come to symbolize the tyranny of the Bourbon monarchy, was stormed by revolutionary crowds seeking to reclaim power and assert their rights against oppression. The act of storming the Bastille not only represented a physical attack on a symbol of royal authority but also ignited widespread revolutionary fervor across France.

This event galvanized the populace and set in motion a series of revolutionary changes that would dismantle the old feudal structures, eventually leading to the end of the monarchy and the establishment of a republic. While it ultimately contributed to many later events, including the Reign of Terror, it is primarily viewed as the catalyst for the revolution’s ideological and social upheaval.