A Brief History of France

by Paul F State

• ISBN13: 9780816083282
• ISBN10: 0816083282
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-12-12
• Publisher: Facts on File

Summary

France has played a profound role in shaping the world, from the Enlightenment and the French Revolution in the 18th century to colonialism in the Caribbean, Africa, and Southeast Asia. Renowned for its cultural and political contributions to civilization, the country today continues its tradition of influence and authority as a central power and the largest member state of the European Union.

Author Biography

Paul F. State holds a master of public affairs, with a concentration in European Union affairs, from The American University and a master of international affairs, with a concentration in European history, politics, and economics, from Columbia University. He is the author of A Brief History of the Netherlands, A Brief History of Ireland, and Historical Dictionary of Brussels. He lives in Buffalo, New York.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations	p. viii
List of Maps	p. x
Acknowledgments	p. xi
Introduction	p. xiii
Beginnings to the Land of the Gauls (Prehistory-52 B.C.E.)	p. 1
Roman Gaul (52 B.C.E.-481 C.E.)	p. 14
The Kingdom of the Franks (481-987)	p. 33
France in Embryo (987-1337)	p. 54
The Making of the Monarchy (1337-1598)	p. 84
The Monarchy Made Majestic (1598-1789)	p. 115
The Great Revolution and the Grand Empire (1789-1815)	p. 152
The Search for Stability (1815-1870)	p. 190
Republican Rule Takes Root (1870-1914)	p. 220
Years of Turmoil and Tragedy (1914-1945)	p. 254
Regeneration and Transformation (1945-2000)	p. 292
France in the Twenty-first Century: The Power of Prestige	p. 330
Appendixes
Rulers of France: 987 to the Present	p. 345
Basic Facts about France	p. 349
Chronology	p. 352
Bibliography	p. 360
Suggested Reading	p. 363
Index	p. 375
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

Excerpts

From prehistoric Neanderthals to the present nation at the heart of the European Union—a comprehensive look at France's history.
From the Enlightenment and the French Revolution to colonialism in the Caribbean, Africa, and Southeast Asia, France has had a profound impact on the modern world. Famous for its cultural and political contributions to civilization, France now occupies a central role in the European Union, of which it is the largest member state.
A Brief History of France offers a broad overview of the country's history, from the prehistoric Neanderthals to the present nation at the heart of the European Union, while also exploring the country's geography, culture, and society. Loaded with black-and-white photographs, maps, and informative sidebars, this new resource paints a detailed picture for readers interested in this European country.
Coverage includes:
Migration and eventual defeat of the Gauls by the Romans under Julius Caesar
Wave of invasions of Germanic tribes from central and eastern Europe
Christianity and the Kingdom of the Franks
Joan of Arc and the making of the monarchy
The French Revolution
Republican rule
Food and fashion
Two world wars and the interwar years
Regeneration and transformation
Contemporary culture and leisure
Issues of cultural assimilation and multiculturalism in the 21st century.