Open links in new tab
  1. History of France - Wikipedia

    • The first written records for the history of France appeared in the Iron Age. What is now France made up the bulk of the region known to the Romans as Gaul. Greek writers noted the presence of three main ethno-linguistic groups in the area: the Gauls, Aquitani and Belgae. The Gauls, the largest group, were Celtic people speaking Gaulish. Over the first millenniu… See more

    Prehistory

    Stone tools discovered at Chilhac and Lézignan-la-Cèbe indicate that pre-human ancestors may have been present in … See more

    Ancient history

    In 600 BC, Ionian Greeks from Phocaea founded the colony of Massalia (present-day Marseille) on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, making it one of the oldest cities in France. At the same time, some Celti… See more

    Frankish kingdoms (486–987)

    In 486, Clovis I, leader of the Salian Franks, defeated Syagrius at Soissons and subsequently united most of northern and central Gaul under his rule. Clovis then recorded a succession of victories against other Germ… See more

    State building into the Kingdom of France (987–1453)

    France was a very decentralised state during the Middle Ages. The authority of the king was more religious than administrative. The 11th century in France marked the apogee of princely power at the expense of the king wh… See more

    Early Modern France (1453–1789)

    France's population was 13 million people in 1484 and 20 million in 1700. It had the second largest population in Europe around 1700. France's lead slowly faded after 1700, as other countries grew faster.
    Political po… See more

    Revolutionary France (1789–1799)

    The French Revolution was a period of political and societal change in France that began with the Estates General of 1789, and ended with the coup of 18 Brumaire in November 1799 and the formation of the French Co… See more

    Napoleonic France (1799–1815)

    During the War of the First Coalition (1792–1797), the Directory had replaced the National Convention. Five directors then ruled France. As Great Britain was still at war with France, a plan was made to take Egypt from … See more

     
  1. History of France | Key Events, Important People, & Facts - Britannica

  2. France | History, Maps, Flag, Population, Cities, Capital, & Facts ...

  3. France - Revolution, Monarchy, Republic | Britannica

  4. History of France - Nations Online Project

  5. Brief Summary of French History - ThoughtCo

    Oct 19, 2019 · Historical Summary of France. The country of France emerged from the fragmentation of the larger Carolingian empire, when Hugh Capet became King of West Francia in 987. This kingdom consolidated power and …

  6. History of France - Wikiwand

    France was one of the Allied Powers in World War II, but was conquered by Nazi Germany in 1940. The Third Republic was dismantled, and most of the country was controlled directly by Germany, while the south was controlled until 1942 …

  7. Key Events in French History - ThoughtCo

    Oct 21, 2019 · France has a long and rich history. Learn about key events which span from c.800 BCE to the twentieth century.

  8. Timeline of French history - Wikipedia