France has a rich history filled with brave warriors, amazing artisans, and delicious food. Let’s explore the area called Gaul from ancient days to more modern times. You can find France on a map in Western Europe on the Atlantic coast south of Belgium, west of Germany and Italy, and northeast of Spain.
Ancient France
The earliest human presence in France dates back to the Paleolithic era which is sometimes called the Stone Age. During this time, the ancient humans left evidence of their existence in the form of tools, cave paintings, and artifacts. The famous Lascaux Cave paintings in southwestern France are some of the remarkable remnants from this period.
The transition to agriculture and settled communities occurred during the Neolithic period. People stopped roaming around and settled down to grow crops and tend animals, plus create more sophisticated tools.
Celtic cultures appeared during the Iron Age. These artisans created some amazing bracelets and necklaces along with more mundane iron items for use around the village.
Greeks and Phoenicians established trading posts and colonies along the Mediterranean coast of France. The city of Massalia (modern-day Marseille), founded by the Greeks in the 6th century BCE, became a significant Mediterranean trading hub.
Roman Days
As the power of Rome expanded, the Roman Republic began to knock on the door of Celtic Gaul. In 390 BCE, the Celts sacked Rome, but over time, Roman influence grew in the region. The Roman presence became more pronounced as the centuries passed.
Then around 50 BCE, here comes Julius Caesar and his Roman army to give Gaul a Roman makeover complete with roads and amphitheaters. Gaul became a sophisticated part of the Roman Empire. Think togas, chariot races, and Roman baths. The Gallo-Roman culture was a fusion of Celtic and Roman tradition.
As the Roman Empire declined, various Germanic and Frankish tribes, including the Franks led by Clovis, migrated into Gaul. Clovis became the first King of the Franks in 481 AD and played a crucial role in establishing the Merovingian dynasty.
Conquerors and Kings
The Merovingian kings took the stage. Their capital was Paris, which wasn't as glittery as it is now, but it had definite royal vibes. Then along came Charlemagne who expanded the Frankish territories and created the Carolingian Empire. Charlemagne wasn't just a king; he was a cultural trendsetter, kickstarting the Carolingian Renaissance – a revival of learning and arts.
The Vikings showed up along the coast of France and caused their own brand of mischief. However, the Normans, descendants of the Vikings, decided to stick around. One of the Normans, William the Conqueror, sailed across the English Channel in 1066 and conquered England to become the king there, too.
France was the dominant kingdom during the medieval period, and for that reason, five generations of kings from England and France fought for the throne. From 1337 to 1453, the leaders and armies fought in multiple conflicts as they vied for control, with the French retaining power after the final truce was called.
Historians call this period the Hundred Years’ War. In 1454, King Charles VII of France held an extravagant banquet called the Feast of the Three Kings to unify the countries and encourage good will.
The Renaissance brought a burst of creativity, with art, science, and philosophy taking center stage. Louis XIV, the "Sun King," ruled in the 17th century, turning Versailles into the ultimate royal palace.
Revolution!
Unfortunately, the good times didn’t last and along came the French Revolution in the late 1700s. Royalty was having a grand time, but the peasants weren’t invited, and they were not happy about it. Marie Antoinette, the queen, supposedly said, "Let them eat cake" when told the peasants had no bread. Well, let's just say that didn't go down well, and the rest is history – literally!
Fun fact: right after the revolution, the new government tried to change the way time was measured to do away with the old church calendar. They invented a calendar that had 12 months in a year, 3 weeks in a month, 10 days in a week, 10 hours in a day, 100 minutes in an hour, and 100 seconds in a minute. Yikes.
When Napoleon Bonaparte became Emperor of the French. He conquered lands, fought epic battles, and left a mark on European history. The new French calendar was too difficult to impose on the new territories, so he ended it in 1806, 13 years after it began. And then his journey ended at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.
The Golden Age of France
The late 19th century was a golden era known as the Belle Époque, filled with arts, fashion, and innovation. Then came the World Wars, with France facing challenges but standing strong. One of the challenges was to protect all that precious artwork. The famous Mona Lisa painting took a road trip to various locations in the French countryside to save it from the dangers of World War II.
Fast forward to today – France is a bustling hub of art, fashion, and delicious cuisine. The Eiffel Tower stands tall, and the French continue to add that certain je ne sais quoi (a French phrase that means “something hard to put into words) to the world.
You can explore the world of French cuisine when you try our eat2explore France box. Bon appéti!
