Historical survey
How the Kingdom of France was Built up
In 59 BC, Julius Cesar conquered Gaul which was occupied by different Celtic tribes. The Christianisation of France began with the Roman civilisation. After the invasions and the barbaric (...)
The Reformation and the Religious Wars
The Reformation reached France in the 16th century. Under the rule of François the first (1515-1547), then Henry II (1547-1559), tolerance turned into persecution. Nevertheless, Calvinism spread (...)
The Age of Enlightenment and the Secularisation of France
Aside from the Enlightenment, the 18th century was marked by the French Revolution (1789) and the "Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen". The tension of the politico-religious (...)
The Franco-Prussian war and the distinctive history of Alsace-Lorraine
Napoleon’s policy to conquer, while initially crowned with success, led to several failures in succession which forced him to abdicate in 1815. France then underwent the Restoration (1814-1830) (...)
The 3rd Republic and Present-day France
France then experienced the Restoration (1814-1830) and the July Monarchy (1830-1848), then the second Empire (1852-1870). The second Empire collapsed following military defeats, making way for (...)