france

Renaissance

A cultural movement that began in Italy in the 14th century, marked by a resurgence of interest in classical art, literature, and learning.

Quebec

Settlement founded by Samuel D. Champlain in 1608, important for French colonization in North America.

Fur trading

Economic activity that involves the trade of animal pelts, key to the French economy in North America.

Edict of Nantes

A 1588 document that granted religious freedom to all French people, ending the French Wars of Religion.

Louis XIV

King of France known as the Sun King, who had absolute power and built the Palace of Versailles.

General Will

The concept proposed by Rousseau that rulers should act in accordance with the desires of the governed.

French Revolution

A period of social and political upheaval in France beginning in 1789, resulting in the overthrow of the monarchy.

Declaration of the Rights of Man

A fundamental document from the French Revolution that outlines natural rights of individuals, including liberty, fraternity, and equality.

Reign of Terror

A period during the French Revolution characterized by extreme political repression, led by radical Jacobins.

Napoleonic Code

The legal code established by Napoleon Bonaparte that reflected Enlightenment principles across his empire.

Dreyfus Affair

A political scandal in France involving the wrongful conviction of a Jewish officer, Alfred Dreyfus, illustrating rampant antisemitism.

Munich Pact

An agreement in 1938 between Britain, France, and Germany that allowed Nazi Germany to annex parts of Czechoslovakia, marking a policy of appeasement.

Marshall Plan

An American initiative providing economic aid to Western European countries, including France, to help rebuild after World War II.

Decolonization

The process by which colonies gained independence from colonial powers, notably in the mid-20th century for France.

Globalization

The process by which businesses and other organizations develop international influence or operate on an international scale.