La Préhistoire
The area to the north and south of the Pyrenees, in modern France and Spain, is occupied from about 30,000 years ago by palaeolithic hunter-gatherers who make good use of the many caves in the area. They left evidence of their presence and sophistication in their wall paintings, with the best known in Lascaux.
In the regions bordering the Atlantic coast, the transition to neolithic villagers begins in about 4500 BC. The communities live in villages of timber houses, with a communal longhouse and the central feature of a great tomb, around which simple huts are clustered and the tradition of stonework is introduced.
L’Antiquité
In about 1000 BC, the Celts arrived from Central Europe and in 52 BC, soldiers from the Roman Empire conquered the Celts. They ruled the region, which they called Gaul for over 500 years. They introduced their culture and language to the Celts and built many cities throughout the country.
In 486 AD, the Franks invaded from the northeast and took over Gaul, with the area becoming known in France. The Frankish leaders including Charlemagne, controlled the country for centuries fighting off attacks by the Normans who were Vikings from Scandinavia. The Franks eventually took over the area on France's northern coast, that is now called Normandy. In 1066, they also conquered England.
Le Moyen Âge
The French led the Crusades with their knights making up the largest part of the reinforcements throughout the two-hundred-year movement. By the 13th century, the French Knights Templar was among the wealthiest and most powerful of the Christian military orders and were the principal bankers for the French crown and of Christian finance.
After the English king tried to claim the French throne, the two countries fought a series of battles beginning in 1337 known as the Hundred Years' War. By 1429 France had lost much of its territory to England. A young shepherdess called Joan of Arc claimed she would bring victory to France. The leaders were convinced of her power so let her command a battle at Orleans, a city surrounded by English troops. She inspired the French soldiers to save the city giving the French confidence to win the war.
In the late 1340s, bubonic plague struck France and most of western and central Europe and spread rapidly through the cities and towns of medieval France. Plague remained endemic for the next 350 years and contributed to further declines in the French population. By the middle of the 15th century, plague and war had wiped out most of the population increases of previous centuries.
Les Temps Modernes
After winning the Hundred Years' War, France's explorers travelled the world and claimed distant lands to build a vast French colonial empire. The years from 1600-1700 were France's 'Grand Siecle'. During this time, France was home to great philosophers, writers, architects and artists. During the long reign of Louis XIV, who ruled from 1643 to 1715, France won many battles but lost others and was forced to give up some of its colonies.
By 1780s, the government was nearly bankrupt and the people were starving. On July 14, 1789, a mob stormed Paris' Bastille prison, marking the beginning of the French Revolution, the end of the monarchy and the start of a republic. In 1799, Napoleon Bonaparte seized control of France, building a stable government with fairer laws. He conquered much of Europe but was defeated in 1815 by the English. In 1871, the French established a new republic which prospered building new industries and claiming new colonies in Africa and Asia.
L’époque Contemporaine
In the first half of the 20th century, France became a battleground for World War I (1914-18) and World War II ( 1939-45). In both wars, Germany invaded France. Germany didn't succeed in taking over France in WWI, it occupied the northern half of France during WWII. General Charles de Gaulle led the French fightback and in 1944, with the help of the Allies the French won back control of their land.
In the 1950s and 60s, France's Asian and African colonies fought for independence including Vietnam and Algeria. In 1968, millions of French students and workers protested against the government, demanding an improved education system as well as better wages and working conditions. Eventually the government agreed to their demands helping France become the strong and wealthy country that it is today.
The area to the north and south of the Pyrenees, in modern France and Spain, is occupied from about 30,000 years ago by palaeolithic hunter-gatherers who make good use of the many caves in the area. They left evidence of their presence and sophistication in their wall paintings, with the best known in Lascaux.
In the regions bordering the Atlantic coast, the transition to neolithic villagers begins in about 4500 BC. The communities live in villages of timber houses, with a communal longhouse and the central feature of a great tomb, around which simple huts are clustered and the tradition of stonework is introduced.
L’Antiquité
In about 1000 BC, the Celts arrived from Central Europe and in 52 BC, soldiers from the Roman Empire conquered the Celts. They ruled the region, which they called Gaul for over 500 years. They introduced their culture and language to the Celts and built many cities throughout the country.
In 486 AD, the Franks invaded from the northeast and took over Gaul, with the area becoming known in France. The Frankish leaders including Charlemagne, controlled the country for centuries fighting off attacks by the Normans who were Vikings from Scandinavia. The Franks eventually took over the area on France's northern coast, that is now called Normandy. In 1066, they also conquered England.
Le Moyen Âge
The French led the Crusades with their knights making up the largest part of the reinforcements throughout the two-hundred-year movement. By the 13th century, the French Knights Templar was among the wealthiest and most powerful of the Christian military orders and were the principal bankers for the French crown and of Christian finance.
After the English king tried to claim the French throne, the two countries fought a series of battles beginning in 1337 known as the Hundred Years' War. By 1429 France had lost much of its territory to England. A young shepherdess called Joan of Arc claimed she would bring victory to France. The leaders were convinced of her power so let her command a battle at Orleans, a city surrounded by English troops. She inspired the French soldiers to save the city giving the French confidence to win the war.
In the late 1340s, bubonic plague struck France and most of western and central Europe and spread rapidly through the cities and towns of medieval France. Plague remained endemic for the next 350 years and contributed to further declines in the French population. By the middle of the 15th century, plague and war had wiped out most of the population increases of previous centuries.
Les Temps Modernes
After winning the Hundred Years' War, France's explorers travelled the world and claimed distant lands to build a vast French colonial empire. The years from 1600-1700 were France's 'Grand Siecle'. During this time, France was home to great philosophers, writers, architects and artists. During the long reign of Louis XIV, who ruled from 1643 to 1715, France won many battles but lost others and was forced to give up some of its colonies.
By 1780s, the government was nearly bankrupt and the people were starving. On July 14, 1789, a mob stormed Paris' Bastille prison, marking the beginning of the French Revolution, the end of the monarchy and the start of a republic. In 1799, Napoleon Bonaparte seized control of France, building a stable government with fairer laws. He conquered much of Europe but was defeated in 1815 by the English. In 1871, the French established a new republic which prospered building new industries and claiming new colonies in Africa and Asia.
L’époque Contemporaine
In the first half of the 20th century, France became a battleground for World War I (1914-18) and World War II ( 1939-45). In both wars, Germany invaded France. Germany didn't succeed in taking over France in WWI, it occupied the northern half of France during WWII. General Charles de Gaulle led the French fightback and in 1944, with the help of the Allies the French won back control of their land.
In the 1950s and 60s, France's Asian and African colonies fought for independence including Vietnam and Algeria. In 1968, millions of French students and workers protested against the government, demanding an improved education system as well as better wages and working conditions. Eventually the government agreed to their demands helping France become the strong and wealthy country that it is today.