From the Enlightenment and the French Revolution to colonialism in the Caribbean, Africa, and Southeast Asia, France has had a profound impact on the modern world. Famous for its cultural and political contributions to civilization, France now occupies a central role in the European Union, of which it is the largest member state.
A Brief History of France offers a broad overview of the country s history, from the prehistoric Neanderthals to the present nation at the heart of the European Union, while also exploring the country s geography, culture, and society. Loaded with black-and-white photographs, maps, and informative sidebars, this new resource paints a detailed picture for readers interested in this European country. Coverage includes: - Gaul migration and eventual defeat by the Romans under Julius Caesar - Wave of invasions of Germanic tribes from central and eastern Europe - Christianity and the Kingdom of the Franks - Joan of Arc and the making of the monarchy - The French Revolution - Republican rule - Food and fashion - Two world wars and the interwar years - Regeneration and transformation - Contemporary culture and leisure - Issues of cultural assimilation and multiculturalism in the 21st century.

Documentarian Errol Morris has a knack for finding the fascinating quirks of his subjects, and this brings Stephen Hawking s book A Brief History of Time to sparkling life. Through interviews with family and colleagues of the brilliant theoretical physicist, as well as Hawking s own synthesized readings and reminiscences, we learn of his early life, his struggle with the degenerative disease ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), and his wide-ranging contributions to our knowledge of time, black holes, and the origin of the universe.