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The important dates
- 58 BC - 481
Rome conquers the Celtic Gaule. Gallo-Roman civilisation
- 481 - 987
Merovingian and Carolingian dynasties. Invasions from the East
Hugues Capet, king of France, begins the Capetian dynasty, which lasted until 1328
- XIth - XIIIth century
Development of agriculture and commerce. Emergence of cities. The king gains more power against the feudal lords. Economical and
cultural role of the monastical orders. Crusades
- XIVth - XVth century
Epidemics (black plague, 1347), starvations and civil wars.
Rivalries between the French and the English : The 100 years War ("Guerre de Cent Ans"), Joan of Arc (1425-1431)
Territorial alliances and reconstitution of the kingdom. Agricultural, demographical and commercial renewal. The first wars
against Italy. The beginning of the French Renaissance period
- XVIth century
Introduction of the Reformation ("Réforme"). Religious wars between Catholics and Protestants. Henri IV (1589-1610).
Edit de Nantes recognising freedom of thought and religion (1598)
- 1610 - 1715
Louis XIII and Louis XIV. Absolute power of the king. French culture and hegemony spread throughout Europe. The beginning of
overseas commerce
- XVIIIth century
Louis XV and Louis XVI. Economic and demographical rise. Age of the enlightenment ("Siècle des Lumières").
Denial of the king's absolute power
- 1789 - 1799
French Revolution. Declaration of the rights of man and citizen ("Déclaration des Droits de l'Homme et du Citoyen")
(August 26, 1789). Execution of the royal family (1792). First Republic. "Directoire" and "Consulat" periods
- 1799 - 1815
The rise of Napoléon Bonaparte, Premier consul then Emperor of France (1804).
Instigation of modern administrative institutions and laws. European wars, which subsequently lead to the abdication of the Emperor
- 1815 - 1848
The return of a constitutional monarchy (Louis XVIII, Charles X). Revolution of 1830. Louis-Philippe. Economic prosperity. Strong
industrialisation. First railways. Establishment of the first French colonies
- 1848 - 1852
Revolution. IInd Republic. First laws on work, media and education
- 1852 - 1870
Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte coup d'etat (Napoléon Ier nephew)
Second Empire. Political liberalisation (1860). Period of strong croissance and colonial expansion
- 1870 - 1875
War between France and Prussia. Loss of Alsace and Lorraine, dismissal of Napoléon III. "Commune de Paris" (1871).
IIIrd Republic
- 1875 - 1914
Recognition of the right to form a union.
Separation of the church and the state (1905). Scientifical and technical inventions
- 1914 - 1918
First World War. Allied victory. Re-institution of Alsace and Lorraine. Peace treaties
- 1919 - 1939
Reconstruction. Artistic shining of Paris. Economical crisis. "Front Populaire" (1936). Tensions in Europe
- 1939 - 1945
Second World War. Defeat and occupation. The General de Gaulle co-ordinates the Resistance from London and Algiers. Allied victory
(May 8, 1945)
- 1946 - 1957
IVth Republic. Reconstruction, demographic and economic rise.
Decolonisation. European Community (Rome treaty, 1957)
- 1958 - 1968
Return of General de Gaulle. Adoption of the Vth Republic Constitution, by referendum (September 28, 1958). "Marché
commun" (1959). "Accords d'Evian" ending the Algerian war (March 18, 1962). The President is now elected through
a direct vote from the people. Economic rise. Social troubles (May 1968)
- 1969 - 1981
Georges Pompidou president (1969-1974). Economic development. Construction of Europe First oil crisis (1973).
Valéry Giscard d'Estaing president (1974-1981). European monetary system ("SME") January 1, 1979. People over
18 years of age are allowed to vote. Second oil crisis (1979). Inflation and unemployment increase
- 1981 - 1995
François Mitterrand president.
Abolition of the death penalty (1981)
- May 7, 1995
Jacques Chirac president
- January 1, 2001
The French Franc, national currency, is replaced by the European Euro
- May 7, 2002
Jacques Chirac president
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