For more than five centuries France has been both a European and
a global power. French explorers, traders, settlers, soldiers and
missionaries journeyed to the world's farthest reaches establishing
colonies, bringing millions of people under French influence and
claiming vast expanses of forests, jungles, deserts, and rich
mineral and maritime resources. Through continued wars with rival
powers, including Spain, Portugal, Great Britain, and Germany,
France lost large portions of its empire and gained others.
Century-long conflict with some of its most valued possessions,
such as Vietnam and Algeria, further hastened the empire's demise
after World War II. This is a story of colorful personalities and
dramatic events: Cartier's exploration of Canada, Richelieu's and
Colbert's global trading companies, Champlain the colonizer, the
French presence in Louisiana, the vast but short-lived French
empire in India, the nefarious slave trade, and France's defeat in
its prosperous Caribbean colony, St. Domingue.
Later chapters survey France's important colonial lobby, the
administration of colonies, the impact of World War I, the Colonial
Expansion of 1931, the rise of labor unions and nationalist
movements. Other chapters cover events related to World War II,
Free France vs. Vichy, General de Gaulle, Ho Chi Minh, Dien Bien
Phu, Algerian independence, the emergence of a generation of
African independence leaders like Felix Houphouet-Boigny and
Leopold Sedar Senghor, the short-lived Community (1958--1960), and
French relations with its overseas partners in a post-independence
era. Drawing on the work of visual artists, creative and popular
writers, and discussing the impact of science and technology on
colonial life, the author paints a vivid picture of empire,
including scenes of everyday life in overseas settings.
General
Imprint: |
Praeger Publishers Inc
|
Country of origin: |
United States |
Release date: |
May 2000 |
First published: |
May 2000 |
Authors: |
Frederick Quinn
|
Dimensions: |
235 x 156 x 22mm (L x W x T) |
Format: |
Hardcover
|
Pages: |
336 |
Edition: |
New |
ISBN-13: |
978-0-275-96799-4 |
Categories: |
Books >
Humanities >
History >
General
Books >
History >
General
|
LSN: |
0-275-96799-9 |
Barcode: |
9780275967994 |
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