A land of revolution, a center of culture and art...
Discover the history of France, more splendid and intense than any other country!

“Everyone has two homelands.
“One is my country, the other is France.”
_Thomas Jefferson

There are many words that symbolize France.
A country of liberty, equality, and fraternity, a republic, a country of democracy and human rights, art and revolution, a hexagon, castles and wine, a city of light... France can be said to be a central country that has played a very symbolic and leading role not only in European history but also in world history.


"The World's Shortest History of France" is a book that examines the history of France, which has always been at the center of European history, from a new perspective.
From prehistoric times, when humans first created tools and left cave paintings, through the Middle Ages, the era of feudalism and absolute monarchy, to the fierce flames of revolution, Napoleon's challenges and failures, and today, as France serves as the heart of the European Union, this book captures various moments in French history.

The Korean edition of 『The World's Shortest History of France』 includes a section titled "History in History," which provides detailed context for the major figures and historical events mentioned in the book, in order to delve deeper into their meaning.
Additionally, we provided the "Essential Guide for Travelers to France" as an appendix, which includes France's UNESCO World Heritage Sites, recommended travel routes, and recommended cities to visit.
This is a valuable collection of information that anyone traveling to France will want to explore.

A key element in politics is war.
The war proved that the nation's environmental determinism was wrong.
In other words, the key indicator that shows that the land and boundaries occupied by a country were not fixed from the beginning is 'war'.

--- p.19

A statue of Vercingetorix stands tall in the ruins of Alesia.
This statue was commissioned by Napoleon III with the intention of showing France before Rome.
The resistance of the divided tribes to unite and fight against the conquering Romans is remembered as the courageous resistance of the Gallic people.
--- p.42

At first glance, the French monarchy seemed to be in good shape, but there were shackles weighing on it.
The problem was that the government's functions were not smooth.
France was much more extensive than England, so internal communications were greatly restricted.
--- p.99

But French society in the 18th century was very different from French society today.
18th-century French society was rife with discrimination between men and women and between classes.
From a modern perspective, 18th-century France was a very unequal society, to the point where the French Revolution seems natural.
But if we step back and observe, the unequal French society of the 18th century was not the direct cause of the revolution that began in 1789.
--- p.184

Supporters of the Third Republic favored Gaul as the origin of France.
Conservatives, on the other hand, emphasized the Catholic identity of the sectarian alliance, citing the Germanic invaders who overthrew the Roman Empire, especially Clovis, who was baptized as the first Catholic monarch of France.
--- p.283

The period after World War II, known as the "Glorious Thirty Years," saw rapid economic development, massive mechanization, and the active use of new technologies.
These changes led to people leaving their native lands and migrating to other places, and France was increasingly shedding its peasant society.
--- p.322

De Gaulle presented France as the leader of Europe, and presented this in French political and cultural dimensions.
With the Élysée Treaty of 1963, France forged closer ties with West Germany.
It was the result of de Gaulle's determination to exclude Britain from Europe and his intention to attack American hegemony.
--- p.327

France continued to play a key role in the EU, with extensive international activities, and became a central country benefiting from the EU.
In 2001, France received 22% of CAP (agricultural aid) subsidies, and in 2002, it reached a bilateral agreement with Germany on the future of CAP, ignoring the critical British position.
This bilateral agreement became the basis of subsequent EU policy.

--- p.363