France (French Republic)
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CultureGramsTM World Edition 2011 France (French Republic) act of the nation; the move won him the support of the BACKGROUND Catholic Church and Gallo-Roman people, who helped him defeat surrounding Arian kingdoms. In the late eighth Land and Climate century, France was part of Charlemagne's vast empire. After Slightly smaller than Texas, France covers 212,935 square the empire's disintegration, France emerged as one of the miles (551,500 square kilometers). As the country is successor kingdoms in 987. The following centuries brought hexagonal in shape, it is sometimes referred to as Hexagone. intermittent conflict, particularly with the English, including The terrain is varied, from plains to mountains and forests to the Hundred Years' War, from 1337 to 1453. In 1429, after 80 farmland. Mountains stretch along the borders with Spain, years of war, Joan of Arc led the French in victory over the Italy, and Switzerland. France boasts one of Europe's highest English. Later burned to death by the English (1431), she peaks, Mont Blanc, at 15,771 feet (4,807 meters). The Rhine remains a French heroine. (Rhin) River forms part of the border with Germany. A flat By the late 1600s, France dominated Europe. Under Louis plain with rolling hills dominates the northern area. XIV (the Sun King), the movement toward centralized The southern climate is Mediterranean, with cool, moist government reached its peak. His palace at Versailles was the winters and hot, dry summers. The north is temperate and envy of the continent. But by 1789, royal extravagance and rainy. The west is also rainy and influenced by the Atlantic, defeats in foreign wars resulted in the French Revolution. which moderates winter temperatures. The central, east, and Louis XVI's monarchy was toppled, and the country entered upland areas have a continental climate, with fluctuating the Reign of Terror. Despite the brutality of the uprising, the temperatures; in the mountains, thunderstorms are prevalent French Revolution marks a milestone in world history in summer. French sovereignty extends to the island of because it started a movement toward democratic Corsica (Corse) as well as 10 overseas territories and government. After a decade of instability, Napoleon départements (overseas divisions of France that have Bonaparte took power, declaring himself emperor in 1804. representatives in the French government as well as some Napoleon conquered most of Europe before embarking on a local autonomy). disastrous campaign in Russia in 1812. In 1814, Austrian and Prussian forces seized Paris, and Napoleon was exiled. His History 1815 return to power, called his “Hundred Days,” ended in By 51 BC, the Romans had conquered the area's Celtic defeat by the English at Waterloo. inhabitants, the Gauls, who then adopted the Romans' The monarchy was restored but was followed by the customs, language, and laws. Clovis I, king of the Franks, Second Republic (1848–52) and then the Second Empire defeated the last Roman governor in AD 486. The French (1852–70), under Napoleon III. Defeat by Germany led to the consider his conversion to Catholicism in 496 the founding Third Republic in 1871. France was a battleground during 1 TM CultureGrams France both world wars. It was occupied by Germany between 1940 the French language. The Académie française is the and 1944 and was the site of the D-Day invasion that turned government body that tries to keep French pure. the tide of World War II in favor of the Allies. The Fourth Republic was declared in 1946; it was followed by the Fifth Religion Republic in 1958, with Charles de Gaulle as president. France Although about 85 percent of the French population is Roman was a founding member of the European Community and is a Catholic, only about 8 percent actively practices the religion. central force in today's European Union (EU). Most French Catholics celebrate the various religious In 1968, students and workers protested over a rigid holidays and attend Mass once or twice a year. Half have a educational system and poor working conditions; their religious wedding, and about half baptize their children. protests resulted in lasting social change. The 1968 events These religious ceremonies have become mostly social rites were still fresh in the public's mind when students in the early for most French, who do not have strong religious beliefs. 1990s took to the streets, protesting conditions in public While active worship is increasingly rare, many people still schools and proposed changes in wage laws. The social unrest visit shrines and other places of devotion. Approximately 10 and economic problems led three successive prime ministers percent of the population practices Islam, making it the to resign. Internal politics were more stable until massive second largest religion in France. A small number of the rioting broke out among suburban youth in 2005. people are Protestants (2 percent), Jewish (1 percent), or Among the first wave of EU countries to adopt the euro, Buddhist (1 percent). About 4 percent of the population France voted against the EU constitution in 2005 but ratified a claims no religious affiliation. There is a strict separation modified version, the Lisbon Treaty, three years later. In the between church and state in France. Wearing religious wake of a global recession in 2008, the government injected symbols is prohibited in schools and public places. over 40 billion euros into the French economy, followed in 2010 by a cut in national spending of 45 billion euros. General Attitudes The French measure success by educational level, family reputation, and financial status. Among the most patriotic THE PEOPLE people in the world, they are extremely proud of their culture, heritage, and way of life. This patriotism fosters a general Population expectation that visitors have some knowledge of French and France's population of roughly 64.8 million is growing show appreciation for French culture. Although the country is annually at 0.53 percent. More than three-fourths of the very multicultural, it seeks to maintain its identity by resisting population lives in urban areas. Greater Paris claims nearly 12 the growing popularity (especially among young people) of million inhabitants and Marseille well over 1 million. cheap fast food, foreign sitcoms, and American music. The Ethnically, the French have a Celtic heritage that has mixed government restricts the percentage of non-French with various other European groups (Latin, Nordic, Teutonic, entertainment on national radio and television channels. The Slavic, and others) over the centuries. Primary immigrant French are reserved and private but tend to be more groups include Portuguese, Italians, Spaniards, Poles, and hospitable outside Paris. Politeness is valued, and S'il vous those from former French colonies in North Africa, West plaît (Please) is a common phrase. Africa, the Caribbean, and Southeast Asia. Although they While the culture of Paris has traditionally directed French have integrated into French society, the various ethnic groups attitudes, political and social trends have caused the French to do not always mix with one another. North Africans tend to reexamine their national identity. This introspection has led remain the most separate because of their religion, Islam. some to predict that French society will experience fundamental change during the next generation. Areas of Language change may include education, immigration, economics, the French is an important international language. It is an official central government's structure, or even language. language of the United Nations and is second only to English in use between nations for communication, business, and Personal Appearance diplomacy. The French government has stressed the language In general, the French take great care to dress well, whether so much that almost everyone in France speaks French, they are wearing formal or casual attire, and they feel more at despite the different nationalities represented. Regional ease with visitors who show the same degree of attention to dialects were in danger of disappearing, but the French appearance. Paris is home to many of the world's leading government has recently made an effort to preserve them. It is fashion designers. Professional attire, depending on the possible to study regional dialects at school, just as if they business and location, tends to be formal. Parisians dress were foreign languages. more formally than people in other cities. In the southern French students begin learning their first foreign language sunbelt, dress is more casual but not less stylish. Most French at age nine. Instruction in a second foreign language begins at women value a natural look and wear very little makeup. 13. Communication skills are emphasized over grammar and French students are not required to wear a uniform to go to theory. English is the most common first foreign language. school; they do have to follow a dress code. Students wear Spanish and German are common second foreign languages. sports clothes during P.E. Young people wear more casual Despite its emphasis on foreign-language instruction, the clothes on weekends or when at home and more stylish French government resists the inclusion of foreign words in clothes when they go out with friends or family. They also 2 TM CultureGrams France like to try out different clothing and hairstyles until they find appreciated as much as the food, though it is best to avoid their own style. personal questions and topics such as religion or money. The French people generally believe religious dress is contrary hosts should be complimented on the meal; good cooking is a to the principles of France's secular society, and some Muslim matter of pride in French homes. women in France face controversy over the way they dress. In 2004, France banned the wearing of head scarves in schools Eating and other public buildings.