France

Before the French Revolution in 1789, the French were ruled by __________.

An absolute monarchy.

The movement called Impressionism was developed by French __________.

Artists.

Which statement about Charlemagne is NOT true?

Charlemagne's empire collapsed during his rule.

What is one step the French government has NOT taken to stimulate its economy?

Ignored trade agreements.

Vineyards of the Southwest

In the southern parts of France, the air is warmer and the soil drier. The grapes used to make French wines thrive in these conditions. The town of Bordeaux has given its name to the whole wine crop of the region. The region's rocky soil and sun help grow grapes.

One Country, One Language

As the French kings expanded their control, they decreed French as the national language. However, several dialects like: Alsatian, German, Basque, and Breton are still spoken in various parts of France. New French words are published in official dictionaries only if they are approved by the French Academy (1635) in order to preserve the purity of the French language.

Industry in the East

In the east of France lies the Rhine Valley. Here the Rhine River, Europe's busiest waterway, forms part of France's border with Germany. Alsace (al ZAS) and Lorraine, two Rhine Valley provinces with rich natural resources, have changed hands many times during conflict between France and Germany. Lorraine has France's largest deposits of iron ore. Nearby, coal is mined. Strasbourg, France's major port on the Rhine, is located in Alsace.

Through which port does France export much of its agricultural and manufactured goods?

Marseille.

Along the Mediterranean

Nestled between the Alps and the Mediterranean Sea in southeastern France is a thin strip of low-lying coastal land. This area, known as the Riviera, attracts millions of tourists each year. The warm climate is ideal for sunbathing on the region's famous beaches and swimming in the sea. The French Riviera is also known as the Côte d'Azur—the Azure Coast—for the magnificent scenery formed by the sky, the sea, and the local flower, lavender. Many people like to visit the lively resort cities of Cannes (KAHN), Nice (NEES), and Saint-Tropez (SAN troh PAY). The city of Cannes is also famous for its annual international film festival. The port of Marseille (mar SAY) is the busiest seaport in France and the second most active in all of Western Europe. Tanker ships bring petroleum from Southwest Asia and North Africa to be unloaded at Marseille and processed at large oil refineries along the coast. Many French exports, including wine, electronic goods, and chemicals, are shipped from Marseille to other countries.

What part of France is the nation's center of commerce and industry?

Northern France.

How have political and economic pressures caused conflict in France?

Rising unemployment and a deep recession in the 1990s and early 2000s and opposition to U.S. military action in Iraq in the early 2000s caused political and economic problems for France.

How did the Roman conquest of Gaul lead to cultural convergence?

The Gauls adopted the Romans' Latin language and Christian religion.

Introduction

The map of France shows why the French sometimes call their country "The Hexagon." The country has roughly 6 sides. Water borders three of the sides. Mountains form along two other sides. Only in the northeast has low hills and flat, wide plains.

Language and Culture

The people of France have maintained a strong sense of national identity through their belief in the historical unity of France, language and culture.

Which statement about the economy of France is NOT true?

Farming is the major activity in the Alps.

Who was most responsible for making French the national language of France?

French kings.

How has language helped unite France?

Having one language allows people to communicate easily.

Life in Southern France

East of Bordeaux lie two mountainous areas—the Massif Central (ma SEEF sahn TRAHL) and the Alps. Dividing these two rugged regions is the Rhône River. The Massif Central lies to the west of the Rhône and forms one sixth of France's land area. The landscape is a mixture of older peaks worn flat by time and newer, sharper peaks that are not yet eroded. Though much of the soil is poor, various crops are grown and there is some industry. East of the Rhône are the Alps, a rugged barrier of mountains that provide spectacular scenery. Unlike the Massif Central, the Alps are a long range of towering, snowcapped mountains. Mont Blanc, the tallest peak in the Alps, rises 15,771 feet (4,807 m) above sea level. For centuries, the Alps hindered movement between France and Italy. In 1787, Horace de Saussure, a naturalist and physicist, climbed to the top of Mont Blanc. He wrote, "Someday, a carriage road will be built under Mont Blanc, uniting the two valleys." His vision took 178 years to become reality. In 1965, engineers dug a highway tunnel through Mont Blanc, which straddles the border between France and Italy. The Alps are known worldwide for their fashionable ski resorts and challenging skiing. During the summer, a magnificent array of alpine wildflowers covers the mountain slopes. Hikers come from around the world to enjoy the scenery.

Why is tourism a major industry in the French Alps?

Fashionable ski resorts and beautiful scenery draw tourists to the Alps.

France Today

Following WWII, the French government established national planning programs to modernize the economy and encourage more balanced growth among France's regions. It also reached out to its Western European neighbors to form new trade agreements, resulting in a period of great prosperity. Today France is one of the leading exporters of goods in the world. What the French government has done to stimulate the economy: It has nationalized some businesses and it has privatized some government-owned companies. Under pressure to meet standards set by the European Union, officials have enacted strict economic measures. In the 1990's and early 2000's France struggled to recover from economic recession. Economic growth returned by 2004, but unemployment remained at about 10 percent. France's opposition to military action against Iraq in 2003 strained its alliance with the United States.

Northern France

France has a varied market economy. In the interior of northern France lies the Paris Basin, a part of the North European Plain. The Paris Basin is a large functional region drained by the Seine and other rivers. In the center of the Paris Basin, on the banks of the Seine, lies Paris, the economic, political, and cultural capital of France. Paris and its surrounding area form France's chief center of commercial industry. Raw materials shipped here from other parts of France and from other countries are turned into finished products. The city of Lille (LEEL), north of Paris, is another important industrial center. Since the late 1800s, the availability of coal for fuel in nearby Belgium has been a major pull factor, attracting many industries. Steel mills, textile factories, and chemical plants in and around Lille have provided jobs. Lille's location near northern European Union countries has helped it recover in recent years from economic problems and high unemployment.

Cooperation and Conflict

France was known as Gaul when the Romans conquered it in the first century BC. For more than five hundred years, the area prospered under the Romans. The Gauls, the native people of the area, were strongly influenced by this cultural convergence, adopting the Romans' Latin language and Christian religion. As the Roman Empire declined, the Franks, who came from the area that is now Germany, conquered the region. The Franks gave France its name. One of the most famous conquerors of all time, Charlemagne (SHAR luh mayn), became king of the Franks in AD 768. By the time Charlemagne died in 814, he controlled a huge empire, known as the Holy Roman Empire, that included much of Western Europe. Charlemagne set up an efficient government in his realm. He sent out missionaries to spread the teachings of Christianity throughout northern Europe. He also encouraged the arts and a revival of learning. Charlemagne's empire fell apart after his death. By the tenth century, most of the power lay in the hands of the nobles who controlled land in the kingdom. In 987, these nobles chose Hugh Capet (HUE ka PAY), the ruler of Paris and the lands around it, as their new king. Under Hugh Capet and his heirs, the monarchy grew strong. The lands ruled by the various nobles were united under one leader. Gradually the ruling monarchs of France expanded the kingdom's boundaries until, by 1589, they were almost the same as those of modern France. For the next two hundred years, French kings exercised absolute control over their lands. Then, in 1789, the monarchy came to a violent and bloody end during the French Revolution. Since then, France has had several different forms of government, including a republic of the people, a constitutional monarchy, and empires under Napoleon Bonaparte and his nephew, Louis-Napoleon. Three times since 1870, German armies have swept across the flat northeastern plains and overrun northern France. The last two invasions, during World War I and World War II, were repelled with help from other countries, including the United States.

Cultural Identity

France's philosophers: René Descartes, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Voltaire. France's artists: Claude Monet and Pierre Auguste Renoir, who created Impressionism (which captures fleeting visual "impressions" made by color, light, and shadows.) The French influence fashion all over the world. For centuries Paris has been the cultural center of France. Paris is also known for its theaters, ballets, operas, orchestras, and cinemas.

Which statement about the history of France is accurate?

The rulers who followed the Hugh Capet built the kingdom into and empire that was about as big as modern France.

What must happen for new French words to be published in official dictionaries.

They must be approved by the French Academy.

What was one indication that France continued to face a long term economic challenge in 2004?

Thousands of workers without jobs.