1. Chapter 16 Central Western Europe
Section One
France

2. Northern France Cities
Paris- Economic, political, and cultural capital.
Lille- Industrial center, factories, coal mining. Steel mills.
Landforms
Flat areas of land with rivers.
Climate
No information in the text.
Economic Activities
Industrial- steel , coal, manufactoring.

3. Southwestern France Cities
Bordeaux- Busy city port and produce wine in the region.
Poor soil is good for grapes.
Landforms-
No information provided in text.
Climate
Air warmer and drier in than Northern France.
Economic Activities
Produce, transport, sell wine.

4. Mediterranean France Cities Cannes- Tourist Nice- Tourist
Saint-Tropez- Tourist
Marseille- Tourist, large sea port
Landforms
Thin strip of low-lying coastal land.
Climate
Warm, ideal for sunbathing.
Economic Activities
Sea port, tourism, and large oil refineries. Export wine electronic goods and chemicals.

5. Eastern France Cities Alsace & Lorraine- regions of France. Landforms
Rhine Valley
Rhine River
Climate
No information
Economic Activities
Large deposits of iron ore.
Coal mining
Major port called Strasbourg along the Rhine River.

6. Southern France Cities No major cites Landforms
Massif Central and Alps- Mountain ranges
Alps- As high as 15,000 feet.
Rhone River
Climate
Cold and snowy in the winter.
Magnificent wildflowers in the summer.
Economic Activities
Skiing

7. Understanding the Past: Cooperation and Conflict
Originally called Gaul, when the Romans conquered it in the first century B.C.
The Romans ruled Gaul for 500 years.
The people of Gaul adopted the Roman alphabet and Latin language.
They also embraced the Christian religion under the leadership of the Bishop of Rome, the Pope.
The Franks took over and gave France its name.
Charlemagne, a Frankish king ruled the Holy Roman Empire from France from 768 to 814A.D.
By the tenth century nobles had most of the power.
By 1589, kings had reclaimed power and ruled until 1789.
The French Revolution followed, then Napoleon, and eventually a republic. In the 20th century France was overrun in WWI & WWII.

8. Language and Culture: One Country, One Language
Before the 1500’s, the French language was spoken only in and around Paris.
As French kings expanded their rule to include all of modern France, they insisted that everyone speak the same French language.
Today French is the national language.
The French Academy, established in 1635, must approve all new French words to ensure the purity of the French language.
Dialect- variations to a language that are unique to a region or community.

9. Cultural Identity
France boasts many intellectual and artistic achievements.
Famous French philosophers, painters, and fashion designers are known the world over.
Descartes, Sartre, Voltaire, Monet, and Renoir to name just a few.
Impressionism- School of art that sought to capture fleeting visual impressions made by color, light, and shadows.
Paris is home to many art galleries, museums, theatres, ballets, operas, orchestras, and cinemas.

10. France Today
Following World War II, France has developed a mixed economy.
Some businesses have been nationalized and others privatized.
Nationalize- to bring something under state control.
France is wealthy and is a leader in worldwide exports.
Today, France struggles with its North African, Muslim immigrant population.
They have been the focus of racial and religious tensions.