The region of modern France has been inhabited for thousands of years. Early paintings found in France prove that human beings have existed in the region for around 40,000 years.

Today’s France was originally part of a region called Gaul, which covered a large area of Western Europe. Gaul was populated by the Celtic people, who had their own language, and the region was mostly ruled by Gaulish Kings until their final defeat by the Romans in the year 50 B.C.

Influence of Romans over the local language

For the next 500 years, the Romans had total control over Gaul. Considering the long period of their rule, the Romans influenced the culture and language of Gaul a great deal. The Celtic or Gaulish language was almost completely replaced by the Roman language, Latin. This was an important development in the history of France. Like the language, the Celtic culture was also dominated by the Roman culture. The Romans initially were strong in administration but later, by the end of the fifth century, started losing hold over Gaul, mainly because of different types of barbarian raiders. Finally, the Romans were defeated by the Frankish King Clovis I in the last quarter of the fifth century, and Gaul became a Frankish empire.

Fall of Rome through the 15th century

After the Romans were forced out, France was under the reign of the Frankish dynasties for a thousand years. The Franks divided the region of Gaul into several different parts and distributed them among themselves as private kingdoms. This disturbed the earlier centralized form of the state, and remained so till the King Louis IX became emperor in the first half of the thirteenth century.

Modern France

In the sixteen century, France became a more strongly united state in spite of some regional issues. It was during this time that French became the main language of Europe. This resulted in further refining of the language along with some reformation.

In the beginning of the nineteenth century, Napoleon became the emperor of the French Empire. It was during the rule of Napoleon that France gained tremendous power and became the strongest nation in Europe.

More than 60% of the French state was occupied by the Germans when it was defeated by the Nazis during World War II in the year 1940. France gained its freedom from the Nazis only after struggling with them for next four years, and with considerable help from the other Allies.