Label Type
Cultural/Historical ContextLabel
The history of what is now modern day France can be traced back to 600 BCE, when the Greeks settled the colony of Massalia (which would remain continually inhabited and is now called Marseille). When the Greeks left the area a couple hundred years later, several Celtic tribes moved into the area. This begins a long history of tribal occupation, with the modern country broken into several, independent clans. This will continue until the area is conquered by Julius Caesar in 52 BCE. The Romans would remain in control of this land for the next 450 years.
In the fourth century CE, the Germanic tribe known as the Franks began to migrate out of northern Europe. It is from this tribe that France got its modern name. In 509 CE, Clovis I united all of the Frankish tribes under his leadership, The Frankish Empire continued for several hundred years. In 768 CE, Charlemagne would become King of the Franks, expanding the Frankish Empire and introducing what would eventually be known as the feudal system to the lands he controlled. The following centuries would see France grow to a world power and be home to such famous individuals as Joan of Arc, Marie Antoinette, and Napoleon.