Global France: A history from the revolution to today

This unit examines the modern history of France as a global nation. Moving from the French Revolution to the contemporary era, you will investigate the many ways in which the French nation has been deeply connected to people, places and events beyond its borders. Some of the key themes you will pursue include revolutions and wars, the creation of a formal and informal Empire, decolonization and the creation of the European union, and current controversies over secularism and multiculturalism. How has France, the self-proclaimed universal nation, shaped the course of modern history? And to what extent in turn has the history of the French nation been shaped by foreign actors, ideas and influences? in answering these questions, the unit aims to show how a deep understanding of French history helps us to understand what it means to be human in the modern world.