Review of French History

This rich history and culture provides many students with the influence to study abroad in France. Many people from all over the world choose to take part in a French language program in France as it is the land where the language was developed over many centuries and is known as the center and most formal dialect for the language.

France was largely made up of the Gauls and a small group of Basque in the century before Christ through the 5th Century AD. Rome was the ruling empire that took over what is now known as the lands of the French and made great influeces on the language of the people. Shortly after the start of the 5th Century AD the Empire of Rome fell and lost control of the land. Germanic tribes moved in and settled the area. The Franks were the ruling tribe and subsequently were under the rule of the Merovingina and Carolingian dynasty.

The French king Charlemagne united the Frankish lands after many battles with the Lombards, different regions of Spain and Baviarai. Charlemagne died at the beginning of the 9th century and the country once again became devided by different interests. Vikings from the north invaded left a trail of destruction and robbed Paris of many antiquities. In the late 10th century Hugh Capet became the leader of the French and started the Capetian dynasty. In the beginning the Capetians only ruled the are around Paris and Orleans. They soon progressed with reuniting other parts of the kingdom and took over many parts of what today is known as France.

In the mid-12th Century Henry II became the king of England and wed the previous queen of France which gave him control over is wife's portion of control over certain French lands. The English rule over this French territory came to an end with a win at the battle of Bouvines in the early 1200's.

In the early 14th century the Capetian dynasty came to an end and the king of England took over the rule of France and started the "Hundred Years' War". The peasants of France and England had many revolts against the crown. During the mid 15th Century the French defeated the English rule and both contries created their own Nations. Louis XI then united France to much of its current land status. While studying in France you will see many accounts of the battles depicted in monuments or French art work.

The history of France is much more complicated than what you can put into a book or what you could learn in a lifetime. It is hoped that while you are abroad on your French program you will take the opportunity to visit the various museums or libraries that house records of the past and perhaps study a little about the French culture in addition to learning the language.

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