I.
"The Cauls . . .their virtues and their vices arc preserved in the hearts of the French people." - Michelct.
GAUL BEFORE THE ROMAN CONQUEST.
1. The Country and its People. - What we know to-day as France once formed the greater part of a much larger territory which the Romans called Gaul.1
The boundaries of Gaul were the Atlantic on the west, the Alps and the Rhine on the east and north, the Pyrenees and the Mediterranean on the south. Looking at the map,8 we see that the country was an irregular square, and that it possessed the best situation in Europe. It was wholly within the temperate zone. It was favored with an abundance of fertile soil, and a climate admirably suited to agriculture, and equally advantageous to health.
1 The Romans called the country Gaul, a name which they derived from its inhabitants, the Gauls, - a word of unknown meaning, though supposed by some authorities to signify "barbarians."
The Gauls were mainly a Celtic race, and are believed to have ha
Table of Contents
I Gaul before the Roman Conquest I; II The Roman Conquest and Occupation of Gaul (5$ uc-AD 4S1), 8; III Conquest of Gaul by the Franks; the Merovingian Kings;; Beginning of the Carolingiau Line (481-768)19; IV The Empire of Charlemagne and the Caroliugian Line (768-; 987) 3i; V The Feudal System; the Coming of the Northmen (814-9S7) 44 VI Hugh Capet; Beginning of the True French Mouarchy; the; End of the World; William the Conqueror (9S7-10GG) 52 VII 'lite Crusades; Rise of the Free Cities; War with England; Conquest of Normandy; the Albigenses; Battle of Bouvines;; Saint Louis; the Last Crusade (1066-1270)63; VIII Philip the Fair; Battle of CourUai; the Papal Quarrel; the First States-General; Suppression of the Templars; the Hundred Years' War; Joan of Arc (1270-1461)So; IX Louis XL; Consolidation of France: the Revival of learning; Francis I; Wars for the balance
"The Cauls . . .their virtues and their vices arc preserved in the hearts of the French people." - Michelct.
GAUL BEFORE THE ROMAN CONQUEST.
1. The Country and its People. - What we know to-day as France once formed the greater part of a much larger territory which the Romans called Gaul.1
The boundaries of Gaul were the Atlantic on the west, the Alps and the Rhine on the east and north, the Pyrenees and the Mediterranean on the south. Looking at the map,8 we see that the country was an irregular square, and that it possessed the best situation in Europe. It was wholly within the temperate zone. It was favored with an abundance of fertile soil, and a climate admirably suited to agriculture, and equally advantageous to health.
1 The Romans called the country Gaul, a name which they derived from its inhabitants, the Gauls, - a word of unknown meaning, though supposed by some authorities to signify "barbarians."
The Gauls were mainly a Celtic race, and are believed to have ha
Table of Contents
I Gaul before the Roman Conquest I; II The Roman Conquest and Occupation of Gaul (5$ uc-AD 4S1), 8; III Conquest of Gaul by the Franks; the Merovingian Kings;; Beginning of the Carolingiau Line (481-768)19; IV The Empire of Charlemagne and the Caroliugian Line (768-; 987) 3i; V The Feudal System; the Coming of the Northmen (814-9S7) 44 VI Hugh Capet; Beginning of the True French Mouarchy; the; End of the World; William the Conqueror (9S7-10GG) 52 VII 'lite Crusades; Rise of the Free Cities; War with England; Conquest of Normandy; the Albigenses; Battle of Bouvines;; Saint Louis; the Last Crusade (1066-1270)63; VIII Philip the Fair; Battle of CourUai; the Papal Quarrel; the First States-General; Suppression of the Templars; the Hundred Years' War; Joan of Arc (1270-1461)So; IX Louis XL; Consolidation of France: the Revival of learning; Francis I; Wars for the balance
