Chapter 16 sec. 1 France

Chapter 16Section 1 France
Central Western Europe
France
French sometimes call their country "the Hexagon"
Country is roughly six-sided
French have a strong national identity
Regions and Economic Activities
Historic cultural and economic regions exist
People in each region has their own traditions and way of life
Northern France
Interior of northern France is the Paris Basin
Part of the North European Plain
Large functional region
Drained by Seine and other rivers
In center of Paris Basin on the Seine is Paris
Economic, political and cultural capital of France
Paris and surrounding area is chief center of commercial industry
Raw materials shipped in from other parts of the country to make finished products
City of Lille is north of Paris
Important industrial center
Available coal for fuel from Belgium
Has had major pull factor attracting many industries
Steel mills, textile and chemical plants
Lille’s location near northern European Union countries helped it recover from recent economic problems and high unemployment
Vineyards of the Southwest
Southern France – air warmer and soil drier
Grapes thrive – wine grapes grown
Region around seaport of Bordeaux in southwestern France – reputation for producing the best wines
Town of Bordeaux
Life in Southern France
East of Bordeaux- tow mountainous areas
Massif Central and Alps
Dividing the two rugged region is the Rhone River
Massif Central lie to west of Rhone River
1/6 of France’s land area
Mix of old peaks worn and new sharper peaks
Soil is poor
littleindustry
Alps east of the Rhone
Rugged mountains
Long range – towering, snowcapped
Mont Blanc –tallest peak in Alps 15,771
Hindered movement between France and Italy for centuries
1965 engineers dug a highway tunnel through Mont Blanc
Known for fashionable ski resorts
Along the Mediterranean
Between the Alps and the Mediterranean Sea
Thin strip of low-lying land along the Mediterranean Sea
Know as the "Riviera
Attracts millions of tourists
Warm climate , famous beaches, swimming in the sea
Also know as the Cote d’Azur – Azure Coast
City of Cannes – international film festival
Nice and Saint-Tropez
Port of Marseille –busiest seaport in France
2nd most active in Western Europe

Industry in the East
Rhine Valley - East France
Europe’s busiest waterway
Forms part of France’s border with Germany
Alsace and Lorraine Provinces
Have rich natural resources
Has caused conflicts between France and Germany

Guals –native people of the area strongly influenced by cultural convergence
Adopting the Romans’ Latin language and Christian religions
As Roman Empire declined the Franks who came from area that is now Germany conquered the region
Franks gave France its name
Charlemagne became king of Franks in A.D. 768
He was the ruler of the Holy Roman Empire
included much of Western Europe
Set up efficient government
Sent missionaries to teach Christianity
Encouraged arts and leaning
When he died his empire fell
By 10th century most power was in hands of nobles

987 the nobles chose Hugh Capet as ruler of Paris and the lands around it
The lands ruled by the nobles were united under one leader
1589 border was about same as now
French kings excised absolute control
1789 the French Revolution ended the Monarchy
France has had several different forms of government
Republic of the people
Under Napoleon Bonaparte a constitutional monarchy
German took control of France in 1870
Had two invasions during WWI and WWII but were repelled with help from USA and others
Language and Culture
Language, culture, and historical unity has kept the French sense of identity
One Country, One Language
Before 1500’s French was spoken only in Paris
French kings expanded control and decreed the language of Paris become the language of all the land
Other languages are spoken in various parts of the country
Dialects are variations of a language that are unique to a region or community
Cultural Identity
French take enormous prid in their intellectual and artistic achievements
Great heroes
Philosophers- Rene Descartes, Jean-Paul Sarte, Voltaire
Painters Claude Monet and Pierre Auguste Renoir
-belonged to art school of Impressionism


Famous French designers take a lead role in setting clothing styles and influence fashion all over the world
Paris is cultural center of France
City’s atmosphere of freedom attracts artist and intellectuals from many nations
Famous art museum the Louve
Theater, ballets, opera, orchestras and cinemas
France Today
France has enjoyed a period of great prosperity following WWII
Notional planning programs to modernize economy
Encourage more balanced growth in the regions
Trade agreements with Western European neighbors
One of the leading exporters of goods in the world

Stimulated economy by Nationalizing some businesses considered vital to national interests
Privatized some government-owned companies to promote economic growth
Enacted strict economic measures
Struggled in 1990’s to over com an economic recession
Racial tensions over Muslim immigrants from North Africa