History of France

France - one of the major capitalist powers. 
The territory of France, was settled about a million years ago and for a long time did not change the composition of its population, while 3 thousand years ago, came here not Aryan tribes Celts (Gallo). Their long rule ended in 140-s BC, when the legions of Julius Caesar completed the accession of Gaul to Rome. During the period of Roman rule here to spread Latin. In the first centuries of our era, he finally ousted Celtic speech and the beginning of the modern French language. 
The weakening of Rome in the IV century, allowing the German tribes in the V century to win the Halle. In the south, established Visigoth, in the east - Burgundy and the north - the Franks. They have something to IX century, and conquered all of Gallia and adopted her its name. Dissolution of 843 in Frankish empire helped the western provinces as a separate state - France. Since the end of XII century in the country began a slow economic recovery, coupled with the centralization of power and industrial development, which allowed it to exhausting the Hundred War (1337-1453) divided England and complete the merger. 
France has become a powerful colonial empire, but the events of the Seven Years War (1756-1763) led to a loss of almost all the colonies, the loss of international prestige and an acute social crisis, which generated in 1789 of the French Revolution. Country free of all feudal remnants, but by the beginning of XIX century, the power in the state seized Napoleon. Since 1804 France has become an empire, it has strengthened the bourgeois order, and reached its highest splendor. World War II the Russian people in 1812 determined the collapse of Napoleon's empire and the country returned to a secondary position in world politics. A series of bourgeois revolutions (1830, 1848) contributed to the revival of the empire in 1852. France is once again a world leader, and only the strengthening of Germany once again overshadowed the State in the second role. In 1870, the country was approved by bourgeois-democratic form of government. 
The desire to revive the lost grandeur led France in the First World War against Germany. Success in helping strengthen the authority of the country and was embodied more in the victory over Nazi Germany. To date, this wonderful country is rightly considered one of the most advanced and respected in the world. 
During the pre-Second World War, the French Government, together with the governments of Great Britain and the United States condoned the aggressive policy of Nazi Germany. It will not prevent the German fascists occupy Austria and Czechoslovakia, and that helped unleash the Second World War. After Germany in 1939. attacked the ally of France - Poland, the French people outrage forced the Government to declare war on Germany. But it was a "strange war". The French military command was not going to war with Hitler, and when in May 1940. German troops invaded France, the French government reactionary deposited Paris and surrendered before the fascist aggressors. But at the end of 1944. French patriots, encouraged by victories of the Soviet Union and its allies over Nazi Germany, through the Anglo-American troops liberated his country from German occupation. Yet there were many military conflicts in which France took part. For several years the French imperialists have rebelled against the Vietnam war. 7 years, they have the war in Algeria, whose people demanded independence. In 1956. France, together with Britain and Israel, the beginning of military intervention in Egypt. But Egypt has been supported by many peace-loving countries (including the USSR). In 1961. France has stepped up its activities secret armed organization (SLA). There is a threat of fascism, but the government managed to resolve this difficult situation. 
France - a highly developed industrial-agrarian country. In terms of industrial production, it is ranked fourth after the USA, England and the former West Germany. Its industry and agriculture is very diverse and varied as the natural conditions of the country. 
At the mines of France produce a lot of iron ore and bauxite, coal and potash salt; mountain rivers are hydroelectric. In engineering plants capable hands of French workers created cars and locomotives, machines and tractors, engines and miscellaneous equipment; at the shipyards constructing the port cities of the court. Chemical companies produce acids, artificial fibers, dyes, plastics, pharmaceuticals. France is famous for long perfume. Textile mills produce fabrics of cotton and linen, of synthetic and natural silk. 
In France, almost all the cultivated crops of temperate zone, wheat and barley, corn and oats, sugar beet and potatoes. Vineyards and orchards have almost all areas of France. On the sunny Mediterranean coast mature olive trees, oranges, lemons and other fruits; here разводят many flowers, especially roses. At Sèvres country is the most important coal basin of France. It provides almost half the coal mined in the country. Own the French do not have enough coal, but iron ore so much that a large part of it is exported. The main iron ore deposits are located in the north-east of the country - in Lorraine. There is concentrated and the majority of metallurgical plants. 
France - maritime country. In the northern borders of its cold, lead tint wave pleschutsya a steep banks, washed away the soft limestone rocks and cliffs form the most bizarre forms. People had to take the lot to create a convenient port for ships. The largest of them - Le Havre - located in the wide river estuary. Seine. Powerful dam protects numerous piers and docks from the sea. In the dam were left only a "gate" through which yurkie tugs pulling on the length of rope ocean vessels in port. Court under the flags of different countries are brought into the port Gavrsky bales of cotton and wool, bags of coffee and rice, rubber, mahogany for the manufacture of expensive furniture, spices and other goods. 
Le Havre - the first French port for passenger traffic and the second, after Marseilles, for the carriage of goods. Since the activities of this port city is closely connected life. Living in Le Havre serve guests arriving on ships. In Le Havre working shipyards, refineries and factories, processing oil and various raw materials brought into the port. The local industry is unable to rewrite all the imported raw materials, and Le Havre - a major entrepot. Cotton and wool, for example, is almost entirely directed to the north-eastern centers of textile production - in the city of Lille, Roubaix, Tourcoing and in Alsace. The bulk of maritime cargo destined for Paris, Le Havre bypasses, following by water up the Seine. 
The bed of the Seine lies on the North-French lowlands. Around the wheat fields, lush green pastures, orchards of apple trees lined straightforward. This - Normandy, one of the oldest provinces, which formerly divided the French state. Now France is divided into departments, several for each of the former provinces. Normandy is famous for the production of butter and cheese, and apples from local farmers prepare cider - a drink known even outside the country.