Country
Background
France is a member of the
European Union, a group
of European countries working together to strengthen Europe economically
and politically. France was one of the original six countries that established
the European Economic Community, an early form of today's European Union.
One group of people who helped shape early
France was the Celts.
Using weapons built from iron, the Celts
were able to spread across Europe as far
as Asia
Minor in ancient times. Celtic culture
still exists in present-day French society.
For instance, in the French region of Brittany,
many people play the bagpipes,
a traditional Celtic instrument. Brittany
is close to Great Britain where some other
Celtic populations can be found.
France was, and continues to be, an important
influence in Europe and the world thanks
to its many talented artists, writers, and
philosophers. Impressionism is
a style of painting that was developed in
France in the late 19th century. One leader
of the Impressionist movement was Claude
Monet, a painter who influenced many
other artists and whose work is still popular
today. In addition to artists, France also
produced some influential scholars, such
as Jean Jacques Rousseau and Jean Paul Sartre.
The philosophies developed by Rousseau and
Sartre changed the way people thought about
themselves and the society around them.
Related
Links
There is a lot more to learn about France!
- Explore these sites for facts and figures
about France.
- Let Atlapedia's "Click-A-Map" show
you physical maps of France.
- See France for yourself! Take a virtual
journey around the country to learn
about daily life, food, sports, arts and
crafts, music and dance, and more.
- Take an electronic tour of a France
Photo Gallery to see photographs from
all over the country.
- Find out what the French
flag looks like.
- Did you know that the American Revolution
contributed to the French Revolution? Read
more about the French
Revolution and Bastille
Day.
- Learn about the Winter
Games in Chamonix in 1924, in Grenoble in
1968, and in Albertville in
1992.
- Find out about the Tour
de France, an annual cycling race through
the mountains of France.
More Countries (past
hosts of Olympic Games)
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