Napoleon Bonaparte was born in Corsica on 15 August 1769 (Kishlansky, Geary and O'Brien). Napoleon was a complex man who served in the Revolutionary War rising through the ranks and ultimately using his military successes to gain popularity and political power (Kishlansky, Geary, and O'Brien). In 1799, Napoleon became First Consul overthrowing the Directory and would control France, eventually becoming Emperor (Kishlansky, Geary, and O'Brien). This essay will delve into Napoleon's domestic and military achievements, as well as his greatest successes and failures. Two of Napoleon's domestic achievements were the reforms he made to education and the economy. Napoleon made reforms to the education system that would impact primary, secondary and technical schools, as well as colleges, creating a comprehensive system for each to follow ("NAPOLEON."). The University of France would also be established which would oversee the curriculum that would be taught and the licensing of teachers (“NAPOLEON.”). Napoleon also believed that it was important for France to be a leader when it came to the sciences and their applications (Kishlansky, Geary, and O'Brien). The new education system would include science as an important aspect focusing on chemistry and physics (Kishlansky, Geary, and O'Brien). The economic reforms made by Napoleon would also be important for France as they would be able to stabilize the currency and would also support industry (Kishlansky, Geary, and O'Brien). Napoleon would also reform the tax system in France, requiring all government bodies to have a balanced budget and creating a central banking system, the Bank of France in 1800 (“NAPOLEON”). Napoleon was also successful in the military field. ..... middle of paper ... military, he was also successful rising through the military ranks and spreading French rule in Italy, helping to launch his political career. In the military, Napoleon also uses his knowledge of warfare and strategies to defeat nations such as Russia and make peace treaties with Austria. Even though Napoleon was experienced in the military field, one of his biggest mistakes occurred during the war in Moscow. He was overly confident and did not prepare for a battle that would last longer than he expected. When he arrives in Moscow, he finds it razed to the ground, leaving his troops without shelter or food. Works Cited Kishlansky, Mark, Patrick Geary, and Patrick O'Brien. Civilizations in the West. 7th ed. USA: Pearson, 2008. Print."NAPOLEON." GPS Faculty Pages. Np, nd Web. April 15. 2014. .