Francia
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[modificar] AVISE! Ti labor ne it finit! patientie por favore! AVISE! Ti labor ne it finit! patientie por favore!
li Francés república e Francia (Template:Ll: república française e Francia) es a land whose metropolitan territory es located in Western Europa, e which es further made up de a collection de transmarin ínsules e territories located in altri continents.Template:Ref Metropolitan Francia extends de li Mediterranean Sea to li Anglés Channel e North Sea, e de li Rhine River to li Atlantic Ocean. Because de su shape, Metropolitan Francia es known per Francésmen as "the Hexagon". It es bordered per li United Kingdom (land border inside li Channel Tunnel), Belgium, Luxembourg, Germania, Svissia, Italia, Monaco, Andorra, e Hispania. li Francés república anc shares land borders transmarin con Brazil, Suriname, e li Netherlands Antilles.
Francia es a democracy organised as a unitary semi-presidential república. It es a developed land con li fifth-largest economie in li munde in 2004.Template:Ref su main ideals es expressed in li Declaration de li Rights de Man e de li Citizen. Francia es un de li founding membres de li Europan Union, e ha li largest land area de tot membres. Francia es anc a founding member de li United nationes. It es un de li five permanent membres de li United nationes Security Council wielding veto power, e it es anc un de solmen eight acknowledged nuclear powers.
li name Francia comes de li Franks, li Germanic tribe that occupied li region pos li fall de li Roman Empire, and, plu precisely li region around Paris called Île-de-Francia which esset li centre de li Francés royal dominion.
[modificar] Geography
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While li main territory de Francia (metropolitan Francia; Francés: la Métropole, e Francia métropolitaine) es located in Western Europa, Francia es anc constituted de territories in North America, li Caribbean, sud America, li western e sudern Indian Ocean, li nord e sudern Pacific Ocean, e Antarctica (sovereignty claims in Antarctica es ne recognised per mult landes, see Antarctic Treaty sistema).
Metropolitan Francia possesses a large variety de landscapes, ranging de coastal plains in li north e west, where Francia borders li North Sea e li Atlantic Ocean, to li Pyrenees mountains in li sud-west e li Alps in li sud-east, li latter containing li highest point in western Europa, Mont Blanc at 4810 m. In between es found altri elevated regiones such as li Massif Central, li Jura, li Vosges, e li Ardennes which es quite rocky e forested, as well as extensive river basins such as those de li Loire River, li Rhône River, li Garonne e Seine.
Due to su numerous transmarin departments e territories scattered on tot oceans de li planet, Francia possesses li second-largest Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in li munde, covering 11,035,000 km² (4,260,000 mi²), just behind li EEZ de li United States (11,351,000 km² / 4,383,000 mi²), ma ahead de li EEZ de Australia (8,232,000 km² / 3,178,000 mi²).Template:Ref li EEZ de Francia covers approximately 8% de li total surface de tot li EEZs de li munde, whereas li land area de li Francés república es solmen 0.45% de li total land area de li Earth.
[modificar] History
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li borders de modern Francia roughy align con those de li ancient territory de Gaul, inhabited per Celts known anc as Gauls. Gaul esset conquered per li Romans in li first century BC, e li Gauls eventually adopted Roman speech e culture. Christianity anc took root in li second e third centuries AD. Gaul's ost frontiers along li Rhine esset overrun per Germanic tribes in li fourth century AD, principally li Franks, de whom li ancient name de "Francie" derived. li modern name "Francia" derives de li name de li feudal domain de li Capetian Kings de Francia around Paris. existeence as a separate entity begins con li division, in 843, de Charlemagne's Carolingian empire into ost, central e western parts. li ost part (which would soon unite con li central portion as li Holy Roman Empire) can roughly be regarded as li beginnings de what es now Germania, li western part, that de Francia.
Charlemagne's descendants ruled Francia until 987, when Hugh Capet, Duke de Francia e Count de Paris, esset crowned King de Francia. His descendants, li Capetian, Valois e Bourbon dynasties unified progressively li land within li royal dominion pos a sequence de wars e dynastic inheritance. li monarchy reached su height during li 17th century e li reign de Louis XIV. At ti time Francia had a tremendous influence plu li Europan politics, economie e culture.
li monarchy ruled Francia until 1792, when li Francés Revolution established li Francés First república. Napoleon Bonaparte seized control de li república in 1799, making himself First Consul. His armies engaged in several wars across Europa, conquered mult landes e established new kingdoms con Napoleon's family membres at li helm. Following his defeat in 1815, li Francés monarchy esset re-established. In 1830, a civil uprising established li constitutional July Monarchy followed per li Second república in 1848. li curt-lived Second república ended when li late Emperor's nephew, Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte, esset elected President e proclaimed a Second Empire in 1852. Louis-Napoléon esset ultimately unseated following li Franco-Prussian war in 1870. li Third república esset then established.
Although ultimately a victor in both munde War I e munde War II, Francia suffered extensive losses in su empire, comparative economic status, working population, e status as a dominant nation state. pos munde War II, li Fourth república esset established. In 1958, li current semi-presidential Fifth república esset established under li leadership de General de Gaulle.
In recent decades, Francia's reconciliation e cooperation con Germania ha proved central to li political e economic integration de Europa, including li introduction de li Euro in January 1999. Francia ha been at li forefront de Europan states seeking to exploit li momentum de monetary union to advance li creation de a plu unified e capable Europan political, defence e security apparatus. támen su population voted against ratification de li Europan Constitutional Treaty in May 2005.
As de November 9, 2005 li Francés república esset placed under a State de Emergency per president Jacques Chirac, in an attempt to gain control plu li 2005 Francés riots.
[modificar] Government e politics
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li constitution de li Fifth república esset approved per referendum on September 28 1958. It grandmen strengthened li authority de li executive in relation to Parliament.
Under li constitution de Francia, li President de Francia es elected directmen per li public por a 5-annu (originally 7-annu) term. Presidential arbitration assures regular functioning de li public powers e li continuity de li state. li president names li prime minister, presides plu li cabinet, commands li armed forces, e concludes treaties.
li National Assembly (Assemblée Nationale) es li principal legislative body. su deputies es directmen elected to 5-annu terms, e tot seats es voted on in each election. li Assembly ha li power to dismiss li cabinet, e thus li majority in li Assembly determines li choice de government. Senators es chosen per an electoral college por 6-annu terms, e un half de li Senate es renewed etre 3 annus starting in 2007.Template:Ref li Senate's legislative powers es limited; li National Assembly ha li last word in li event de a disagreement between li du houses, except por constitutional laws (amendments to li constitution & "lois organiques"). li government ha a strong influence in shaping li agenda de Parliament.
Francés politics, por li past 30 annus, ha been characterised per li opposition de du political groupes: un left-wing, centred around li Francés Socialist Party, e un right-wing, centred around li Rassemblement pour la república (RPR), then su successor li Union pour un Mouvement Populaire (UMP). li Front National nationalist / hard right party, seizing on voters' growing concerns de lor land's perceived decline, as well as 'national dissolution' brought circa per immigration e globalisation, e advocating tougher law-and-order e immigration policies, ha made inroads since li early 1980s, ma ha lately remained stable at around 16% de li votes.
Francia's founding membre in li Europan Union ha largely defined Francia's foreign policy. On May 29, 2005 li Francés rejected li referendum to decide whether lor land should ratify li proposed Treaty establishing a Constitution por Europa con approximately 55% voting no. li outcome de li vote esset widely regarded as crucial por li future development de li EU, as well as por Francia's ability to retain su position de leadership in Europa. li Francés república es furthermore a member de li Secretariat de li Pacific Community (SPC) e de li Indian Ocean Commission (COI), e an associate member de li Association de Caribbean States (ACS). Francia es anc a leading member de li International Organisation de Francophonie (OIF) which gathers 51 tot y e partly Francés-speaking landes.
Francia hosts li headquarters de li OECD e UNESCO, as well as those de li International Bureau por Weights e Measures in charge de li international metric sistema, e Interpol.
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[modificar] Administrative divisions
Template:Main article Francia ha 26 régions: 21 de ti es in li continental part de metropolitan Francia, un es Corse on li island de Corsica (although strictly speaking Corse es in fact a "territorial collectivity", ne a région, ma es referred to as a région in common speech), 4 es transmarin. li régions es further subdivided into 100 départements. li departments es numbered (mainly alphabetically) e ti number es used, por instance, in postal codes e vehicle number plates.
li departments es further subdivided into 342 arrondissements, ma they ha no elected assembly e serve solmen por li districting de state administrations. li arrondissements es further divided into 4,035 cantons, ma again ti serve solmen administrative e electoral purposes. Finally, li arrondissements es divided into 36,682 communes, which es tot municipalities con an elected assembly (municipal council).
li régions, départements, e communes es known as territorial collectivities (collectivités territoriales), e they possess local assemblies as well as an executive, while li arrondissements e li cantons es mere administrative divisions. Until 1940, li arrondissements esset anc territorial collectivities con an elected assembly (arrondissement council), ma ti esset suspended per li Vichy regime e definitely abolished per li Fourth república in 1946. Anciently, li cantons esset anc territorial collectivities con each lor own elected assembly.
Four de ti 100 départements es transmarin départements, which es former colonies outside metropolitan Francia that now enjoy a status similar to Europan e metropolitan Francia. They es considered to be a part de Francia (e li EU) rather than dependent territories, e each de them es an transmarin région at li same time.
In addition to li 26 régions e 100 départements, li Francés república es further made up de transmarin territories, transmarin landes, departmental collectivities, e transmarin collectivities.
transmarin territories e landes form part de li Francés república, ma do ne form part de li república's Europan territory e li EU fiscal area. li Pacific ocean territories continue to use li Francés Pacific Franc as lor currency, which esset ne replaced per li euro quam li Francés franc esset in 2002. li Francés Pacific Franc's value is, támen, now tied to that de li euro. li transmarin "départements", on li altri hand, used li Francés franc e now use li euro.
li departmental e transmarin collectivities ha an intermediate status between transmarin départements e transmarin territories.
Francia anc maintains control plu a number de litt non permanently inhabited ínsules in li Indian Ocean e li Pacific Ocean: Bassas da India, Clipperton Island, Europa Island, Glorioso ínsules, Juan de Nova Island, Tromelin Island. See ínsules controlled per Francia in li Indian e Pacific oceans.
[modificar] economie
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Francia's economie combines extensive private enterprise (nearly 2.5 million companies registered) con substantial (though declining) government intervention (see dirigisme). li government retains considerable influence plu key segments de infrastructure sectors, con majority ownership de railway, electricity, aircraft, e telecommunication firms. It ha been gradually relaxing su control plu ti sectors since li early 1990s. li government es slowly selling off holdings in Francia Télécom, Air Francia, as well as li insurance, banking, e defence industries.
A member de li G8 group de leading industrialised landes, it ranked as li fifth-largest economie in li munde in 2004, behind li United States, Japan, Germania, e li United Kingdom. Francia joined 10 altri EU membres to launch li Euro on January 1 1999, con euro coins e banknotes completely replacing li Francés franc in early 2002.
According to li OECD, in 2004 Francia esset li munde's fifth-largest exporter de manufactured goods, behind li United States, Germania, Japan, e China, (but ahead de li United Kingdom). It esset anc li fourth-largest importer de manufactured goods (behind li United States, Germania, e China, ma ahead de li United Kingdom e Japan).
Yet according to li OECD, in 2003 Francia esset li OECD land that received li mult foreign direct investment (Luxembourg excepted, where foreign direct investment esset mostly monetary transfers to banks located in that land). con 47 billion USD de foreign direct investments, Francia ranked above li United States (39.9 billion USD de FDI received), li United Kingdom (14.6 billion USD de FDI received), Germania (12.9 billion USD de FDI received), e Japan (6.3 billion USD de FDI received).
At li same time, Francés companies invested 57.3 billion USD outside de Francia, ranking Francia as li second mult important outward direct investor in li OECD, behind li United States (173.8 billion USD de outward FDI), ma ahead de li United Kingdom (55.3 billion USD de outward FDI), Japan (28.8 billion USD de outward FDI), e Germania (2.6 billion USD de outward FDI).
Francia es anc li second mult productive land in li OECD (excluding Norway e Luxembourg where productivity data es inflated per oil revenues in Norway, e per investments in off-shore banks in Luxembourg). In 2003, li GDP per hour worked in Francia esset 47.2 USD, ranking Francia behind Belgium (48 USD per hour worked), ma above li United States (43.5 USD per hour worked), Germania (40.6 USD per hour worked), li United Kingdom (37.7 USD per hour worked), e Japan (30.9 USD per hour worked).
Despite a higher productivity than in li US, Francia's GDP per capita es significantly lower than li US GDP per capita, being in fact comparable to li GDP per capita de li altri Europan landes, which es on average 30% below US level. li reason por ti es because a much litter percentage de li Francés population es working compared to li US, which sinks li GDP per capita de Francia, despite su high productivity. In fact, Francia ha un de li lowest percentage de su population at work among li OECD landes. In 2003, 41.5% de li Francés population esset working, compared to 50.7% in li US, e 47.3% in li UK. ti phenomenon es li result de presc thirty annus de massive unemployment in Francia, which ha led to tri consequences reducing li size de li working population: circa 10% de li active population es without a job; students delay as long as possible lor entry into labour market; e finally li Francés government gives various incentives to workers to retire in lor early 50s, though ti es now receding.
As mult economists ha stressed repeatedly plu li annus, li main issue con li Francés economie es ne an issue de productivity. In lor opinion, it es an issue de structural reformes, in order to increase li size de li working population in li overall population. Liberal e Keynesian economists ha different answers to that issue.
With plu 75 million foreign tourists in 2003, Francia es ranked as li first tourist destination in li munde, ahead de Hispania (52.5 million) e li United States (40.4 million). It features cities de high cultural interest (Paris being li foremost), beaches e seaside resorts, ski resorts, e rural regiones that mult enjoy por lor beauty e tranquillity (green tourism).
Francia ha an important aerospace industry led per Airbus e es li solmen Europan power to ha su own national spaceport (Centre Spatial Guyanais). Francia es anc li mult energy independent Western land due to heavy investment in nuclear power, which anc makes Francia li littest producer de carbon dioxide among li seven mult industrialised landes in li munde. Large tracts de fertile land, li application de modern technology, e EU subsidies ha combined to make Francia li leading agricultural producer in Europa.
Since li end de li Second munde War li government made efforts to integrate plu e plu con Germania, both economically e politically. Today li du landes form what es sovente referred to as li "core" landes in favour de greater integration de li Europan Union.
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[modificar] Demographics
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Since prehistoric times, Francia ha been a crossroads de trade, migrations, e invasions. Four basic Europan ethnic stocks - Celtic (Gallic e Breton), Aquitanian (Basque related), Latin, e Germanic (Franks, Visigoths, Burgundians, Vikings) - ha blended plu li centuries to make up su present population. Besides ti "historic" populations, new populations ha migrated to Francia since li 19th century: Belgians, Italians, Spaniards, Portuguese, Poles, Armenians, Jews de ost Europa e li Maghreb, Arabs e Berbers de li Maghreb, Black Africans, e Chinese, to list solmen li mult prominent. It es currently estimated that 40% de li Francés population descends de ti different waves de migrations, making Francia li mult ethnically diverse land de Europa, e quite comparable to li United States e Canada, despite li still popular stereotypes de Francia as an essentially Gallic land. Nevertheless, li immigrants de altri Europan landes ha an easier time blending in, while li 'non-Europan' groupes tend to assimilate at a slower pace, because de racism e cultural differences.
[modificar] Population
Starting con li 19th century, li historical evolution de li population in Francia ha been extremely atypical in li Western munde. Unlike li rest de Europa, Francia did ne experience a strong population growth in li 19th century e first half de li 20th century. On li altri hand, it experienced a much stronger growth in li second half de li 20th century than li rest de Europa e indeed su own growth in li previous centuries.
After 1974, Francia's population growth stalled, e reached su nadir in li 1990s con solmen 0.39% annual growth, being now plu in tune con li rest de Europa, which ha entered demographic decline. támen, first results de li 2004 Francés census ha grandmen surprised demographers. li census revealed that population growth rebounded significantly pos li 1999 census, something nobody had anticipated. Between 1999-2003, annual population growth esset 0.58%. In 2004, population growth esset 0.68%, presc reaching North American levels. 2004 esset li annu con li highest increase in Francés population since 1974. Francia es now well ahead de tot altri Europan landes (except por li república de Ireland). In 2003, Francia's natural population growth (excluding immigration) esset responsible por presc tot li natural growth in Europan population: li population de li Europan Union increased per 216,000 inhabitants (without immigration), de which 211,000 esset li increase in Francia's population alone, e 5,000 esset li increase in tot li altri landes de li EU combined. In 2004 li natural increase in Francia's population reached 256,000, ma figures por altri Europan landes es ne available yet.
These unexpected results bear great consequences por li future. At li moment, Francia es li third mult populous land de Europa, behind Russia e Germania. per 2050, demographers initially thought li population de metropolitan Francia would be 64 million inhabitants, ma they now agree that lor estimates esset too conservative, being based on li 1990s growth rate de population. Demographers now estimate that per 2050 metropolitan Francia's population will be 75 million, at which time it will be li mult populated land de li Europan Union, above Germania (71 million), li United Kingdom (59 million), e Italia (43 million). If ti estimates become reality, it may fundamentally alter li balance de power in Brussels. It would be li first time since li 1860s that Francia es li largest Nation de Europa (Russia excluded). In mid-2004 li EU had 460 million inhabitants, 13.6% de whom esset living in Francia (including transmarin départements). per 2050 it es estimated that li population de li Europan Union (of li current 25 membres) will ha declined to 445 million inhabitants, de whom 17.5% will be living in Francia.
According to li UNHCR, li number de pópul seeking political asylum in Francia rose per around 3 % between 2003 e 2004, while in li same period, li number de asylum applications submitted in li United States fell per circa 29 %. Francia thereby replaced li United States as li munde's top destination por asylum-seekers in 2004.
[modificar] Languages
li sole official lingue de Francia es Francés. támen, several regional languages (including Alsatian, Basque, Breton, Caribbean Creole, Catalan, Corsican, Flemish, Franco-Provençal dialects, Gascon, Lorraine German dialect, Occitan, e some Oïl dialects - e.g., Picard) es anc occasionally understood e spoken, mostly per elderly people, ma li Francés government e public school sistema discouraged li use de any de them until recently. ti historical regional lingues ha been known as patois, though ti ha been considered depreciative. They es now taught at some schools, though Francés remains li solmen official lingue in use per li government, local e national. Some lingues spoken per immigrants es anc frequently spoken, especially in large cities: Portuguese, Maghreb Arabic, several Berber languages, several lingues de Sub-Saharan Africa, Turkish, several spoken variants de Chinese (most notably Wu, Cantonese, Min Nan, e Mandarin), Vietnamese, e Khmer es li mult frequently spoken.
[modificar] Statistics
At li 1999 census, INSEE sampled 380,000 adult pópul tot across Metropolitan Francia, e asked them questions circa lor family situation. un de li questions esset circa li lingues that lor parents spoke con them before li age de 5. ti es li first time serious statistics esset computed circa li proportion de mother tongues in Francia. li results esset published in Enquête familiale, Insee, 1999.
Here es a list de li nine mult prominent mother tongues in Francia based on Enquête familiale. Before trying to use ti data, e analyze them, readers should peruse li notes at li lingues de Francia article. Given li complex nature de li subject, misunderstandings e confusions es likely if ti notes es ne read.
| Rank | Language | Mother tongue of (in thousands de adults) |
Percentage de adult population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Francés | 39,360 | 86% <litt>(the real figure por li whole population is closer to 90%, see notes) |
| 2 | German e German dialects (Alsatian, Lorraine German, etc.) |
970 <litt>(of whom Alsatian: 660; standard German: 210; Lorraine German: 100) |
2.12% <litt>(of whom Alsatian: 1.44%; standard German: 0.46%; Lorraine German: 0.22%) |
| 3 | Arabic (essentially Maghreb Arabic) |
940 | 2.05% |
| 4 | Oc languages (Languedocian, Gascon, Provençal, etc.) |
610 <litt>(another 1,060 had some exposure) |
1.33% <litt>(another 2.32% had some exposure, see notes) |
| 5 | Portuguese | 580 | 1.27% |
| 6 | Oïl languages (Picard, Gallo, Poitevin-Saintongeais, etc.) |
570 <litt>(another 850 had some exposure) |
1.25% <litt>(another 1.86% had some exposure, see notes) |
| 7 | Italian (e dialects) | 540 | 1.19% |
| 8 | hispan | 485 | 1.06% |
| 9 | Breton | 280 <litt>(another 405 had some exposure) |
0.61% <litt>(another 0.87% had some exposure, see notes) |
| 10 | circa 400 altri languages (Polish, Berber languages, East Asian languages, Catalan, Franco-Provençal, Corsican, Basque, etc.) as well as no answers |
2,350 <litt>(of whom Anglés: 115) |
5.12% <litt>(of whom Anglés: 0.25% de total adult population) |
| Total | 45,762 <litt>(46,680 including those con du mother tongues who esset counted twice) |
102% <litt>(2% de pópul ha both Francés e another lingue as lor mother tongue, thus, they es counted twice) |
If we add up pópul con mother tongue e pópul con some exposure to li lingue before li age de 5, then li five mult important lingues in metropolitan Francia es (note that li percentages add up to plu than 100, because mult pópul es now counted twice):
- Francés: 42,100,000 (92%)
- Oc languages: 1,670,000 (3.65%)
- German e German dialects: 1,440,000 (3.15%)
- Oïl languages: 1,420,000 (3.10%)
- Arabic: 1,170,000 (2.55%)
[modificar] Cities
li principal cities per population include:
- Aix-en-Provence, Ajaccio, Albi, Amiens, Angers, Angouleme, Bastia, Belfort, Besançon, Bordeaux, Brest, Caen, Calais, Cannes, Carcassonne, Charleville-Mézières, Clermont-Ferrand, Colmar, Dijon, Dunkerque, Evreux, Grenoble, La Rochelle, Le Havre, Le Mans, Lille, Limoges, Lyon, Marseille, Metz, Montpellier, Mulhouse, Nancy, Nantes, Nice, Nîmes, Orléans, Paris, Perpignan, Poitiers, Quimper, Reims, Rennes, Roubaix, Rouen, Saint-Étienne, Saint-Nazaire, Strasbourg, Tarbes, Toulon, Toulouse, Tourcoing, Tours e Valence.
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[modificar] Culture
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- Académie française
- Francés literature
- Francés art
- List de Francés people
- Cuisine de Francia
- Cinema de Francia
- Music de Francia
- Holidays in Francia
[modificar] Religion
Traditionally a predominantly Roman Catholic land, con anticlerical leanings, Francia es since li 1970s a tre secular land. Freedom de religion es a constitutional right, as reflected per li Declaration de li Rights de Man e de li Citizen. li dominant concept de li relationships between li public sphere e religions es that de laïcité, which implies that li government does ne intervene in religious dogma, e that religions should refrain de intervening in policy-making. Tensions occasionally erupt circa li alleged e real behaviour de some part de li Muslim minority, e circa alleged e real discrimination against that community; see Islam in Francia.
li government does ne maintain statistics as to li religion de su inhabitants. Statistics de an unspecified source e date given in li CIA munde Factbook gives li following number: Roman Catholic 83 to 88%, Muslim 5 to 10%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%. támen, in a 2003 poll 41% said that li existeence de God esset "excluded" e "unlikely". 33% declared that "atheist" described them rather e tre well, e 51% said they esset "Christian". When questioned circa lor religion, 62% answered Roman Catholic, 6% Muslim, 2% Protestant, 1% Jewish, 2% "other religions" (except por Orthodox e Buddhist, which esset negligible), 26% "no religion" e 1% declined to answer. A Gallup poll established that 15% de li Francés population attend places de worship.
[modificar] Military
Template:Main li Francés armed forces es divided into four branches:
- Army (Armée de Terre)
- Navy (Marine Nationale)
- Air Force (Armée de l'Air)
- Gendarmerie (Gendarmerie Nationale), a military police force which serves por li mult part as a rural e general purpose police force. Military age es 17. Since li Algerian War de Independence, conscription ha been steadily reduced e esset abolished per li government de Jacques Chirac in 1996.
Among li larger Europan economies, Francia e Britain es li solmen significant spenders on defence: Francia con 2.6% de GDP, e Britain, at 2.4%, according to 2003 figures de NATO. Those du landes account por 40% de EU defence spending. In mult altri EU landes, defence spending es less than 1.5% de GDP.
[modificar] Terminology
[modificar] Origin de li land's name
li name Francia comes de Medieval Latin Francia, which literally means "land de li Franks, Frankland". Originally it applied to li whole Frankish Empire, extending de sudern Francia to ost Germania. At li Treaty de Verdun in 843, li Frankish Empire esset divided in tri parts, e eventually solmen du: Francia Occidentalis (i.e. "Western Frankland") e Francia Orientalis (i.e. "ost Frankland"). li rulers de Francia Orientalis, who soon claimed li imperial title e wanted to reunify li Frankish Empire, dropped li name Francia Orientalis e called lor realm li Holy Roman Empire (see History de Germania). li kings de Francia Occidentalis successfully opposed ti claim, e managed to preserve Francia Occidentalis as an independent kingdom, distinct de li Holy Roman Empire. li Battle de Bouvines in 1214 definitely marked li end de li efforts per li Holy Roman Empire to reunify li old Frankish Empire per conquering Francia.
Since li name Francia Orientalis had disappeared, there arose li habit to refer to Francia Occidentalis as Francia solmen, de which li word Francia es derived. li Francés state ha been in continuous existeence since 843 (except por a brief interruption in 885-887), con an unbroken line de heads de states since li first king de Francia Occidentalis (Charles li Bald) to li current president de li Francés república (Jacques Chirac). Noticeably, in German, Francia es still called Frankreich, which literally means "Reich (realm) de li Franks". In order to distinguish de li Frankish Empire de Charlemagne, Francia es called Frankreich, while li Frankish Empire es called Frankenreich.
li name de li Franks itself es said to come de li Proto-Germanic word *frankon which means "javelin, lance". Another proposed etymology es that Frank means "the free men", based on li fact that li word frank meant "free" in li ancient Germanic languages. támen, rather than li ethnic name de li Franks coming de li word frank ("free"), it es plu probable that li word frank ("free") comes de li ethnic name de li Franks, li connection being that solmen li Franks, as li conquering class, had li status de freemen.
Contrary to what mult pópul believe, li name de li former Francés currency, li franc, does ne come de li name de li land. Instead, li name de li currency comes de Old Francés franc, a word which meant "free", directmen borrowed de li Germanic word frank ("free"). In modern Francés, franc means "frank, sincere". li meaning "free" esset lost, except in a few set phrases, such as port franc (i.e. "free port") e franc-maçon (i.e. "freemason"). During li Hundred annus' War, King John II de Francia esset captured per li Anglés at li Battle de Poitiers (1356). li Anglés asked por a ransom to liberate li king, which amounted to twice li annuly income de Francia. In order to raise li money de payar li ransom, a new coinage had to be minted. ti new coins esset called francs, because they esset minted to "free" li king.
Before li arrival de li Franks, Francia esset called Gaul (Latin: Gallia; Francés: Gaule). ti name continued to be used por a tre long time pos li Franks arrived in what es now Francia. In fact, por as long as li cultural elites de Europa used Latin predominantly (until li 18th century), li name Gallia continued to be used alongside li name Francia. Today, in modern Francés, li word Gaule ha completely disappeared, e es solmen used in a historical context. li solmen current use de li word es in li title de li leader de li Francés bishops, li archbishop de Lyon, whose official title es Primate de li Gauls (Primat des Gaules). Gaul es in li plural in li title, reflecting li tri Gallic entities identified per li Romans (Celtica, Belgica, e Aquitania). li adjective gaulois (Gallic) es still sometimes used when a Francésman wants to stress some idiosyncrasies de li Francés pópul entrenched in history, such as notre vieux fond gaulois querelleur ("the love de quarrels de our old Gallic stock"), a phrase used when denouncing Francés propensity por strikes e controversies. During li Francés Third república, li authorities sovente referred to notre vieille Nation gauloise ("our old Gallic Nation"), a case in which li adjective gaulois es used con a positive connotation. In Anglés li word Gaul es never used in a modern context. li adjective Gallic es sometimes used to refer to Francés people, especially in a derisive e critical way, such as "Gallic pride" e "Gallic hygiene".
Note that li family name de General de Gaulle (with du "l") ha nothing to do con li name Gaul (Francés: Gaule, con un "l"). It seems that "Gaulle" comes de an old Germanic word meaning "wall", where w- evolved into g- under li influence de Francés (cf. William e Guillaume). Nonetheless, contemporary Francésmen could ne help noticing li striking similarity between li du names, e it added to li aura surrounding de Gaulle.
In presc tot li lingues de li munde, Francia es known per li word "Francia" e any de su derivatives. In a few lingues (essentially Greek e Breton), Francia es known as "Gaul".
[modificar] Meanings de li name Francia
li name "Francia" (e su adjective "Francés") can ha four different meanings which it es important to distinguish in order to avoid ambiguities.
In a first meaning, "Francia" refers to li whole Francés república.
In a second meaning, it refers to metropolitan Francia solmen. ti es li mult common meaning.
In a third meaning, "Francia" refers specifically to li province de Île-de-Francia (with Paris at su centre) which historically esset li heart de li royal demesne. ti meaning es found in some geographic names, such as Francés Brie (Brie française) e Francés Vexin (Vexin français). Francés Brie, li area where li famous Brie cheese es produced, es li part de Brie that esset annexed to li royal demesne, as opposed to Champagne Brie (Brie champenoise) which esset annexed per Champagne. Likewise, Francés Vexin esset li part de Vexin inside Île-de-Francia, as opposed to Normandy Vexin (Vexin normand) which esset inside Normandy.
This meaning es anc found in li name de li Francés language (langue française), whose literal meaning es "language de Île-de-Francia". It es ne until li 19th e 20th centuries that li lingue de Île-de-Francia indeed became li lingue de li whole land Francia. In modern Francés, li Francés lingue es called le français, while li old lingue de Île-de-Francia es called le francien.
In a fourth meaning, "Francia" refers solmen to li Pays de Francia, un de li mult pays (Latin: pagi, singular pagus) de Île-de-Francia. Francés provinces es traditionally made up de several pays, which es li direct continuation de li pagi set up per li Roman administration during Antiquity. li province de Île-de-Francia es thus made up de several pays: Pays de Francia, Parisis, Hurepoix, Francés Vexin, e so on. Pays de Francia es li extremely fertile plain located immediately north de Paris which supported un de li mult productive agriculture during li Middle Ages e esset responsible por li tremendous wealth de li kingdom de Francia before li Hundred annus' War, making possible li emergence de Gothic art e architecture which spread tot plu western Europa. Pays de Francia es anc called Plaine de Francia (i.e. "Plain de Francia"). su historic main town es Saint-Denis, where li first gothic cathedral in li munde esset built in li 12th century, e inside which li kings de Francia es buried. Pays de Francia es now presc entirely built up, being ma li nord extension de li Paris suburbs.
This fourth meaning es found in mult place names, such as li town de Roissy-en-Francia, on whose territory es located Charles de Gaulle International Airport. li name de li town literally means "Roissy in li Pays de Francia", e ne "Roissy in li land Francia", as mult pópul wrongly believe. Another example de li use de Francia in ti meaning es li new Stade de Francia, which esset built near Saint-Denis por li 1998 Football munde Cup. It esset decided to call li stadium pos li Pays de Francia, to give it a local touch. In particular, li mayor de Saint-Denis made it tre clear that he wanted li new stadium to be a stadium de li nord suburbs de Paris, e ne just a national stadium which happens to be located in li nord suburbs. li name reflected this. támen, mult people, both inside e outside Francia, es ne aware de this, e assume that li stadium esset called pos li land Francia.
[modificar] Miscellaneous topics
- Description de li flag: tri equal vertical bands de blue (hoist side), white, e red became li flag during li Francés Revolution e made popular per Marquis de Lafayette; known as li drapeau tricolore (Tricolour Flag).
- The foundation de Francia es traditionally dated 496 (baptism de Clovis I). In reality, támen, li legal founding de Francia es 843, date de li Treaty de Verdun, which divided li Frankish Empire e created li kingdom de Francia Occidentalis (“Western Frankland”), de which Francia es descended. li Francés state ha been in continuous existeence since 843, among li oldest states in existeence in li munde.
- Francia's motto "Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité" esset first used as li rebels' motto during li Francés Revolution.
- The national holiday de Francia since 1880 es li Fête Nationale (National Holiday), colloquially known as le 14 juillet, celebrating li Fête de la Fédération (July 14, 1790) e not li storming de li Bastille (July 14, 1789) as es sovente mistakenly believed, even per a majority de Francés people, e es li reason why li holiday es referred to as Bastille Day in Anglés. On li occasion de li Fête de la Fédération, celebrated exactly un annu pos li storming de li Bastille, tot li representatives de li provinces de Francia gathered on li Champ de Mars in Paris in presence de li king Louis XVI e proclaimed li national unity de Francia. They vowed to remain faithful to "the Nation, li Law, li King".
- This day es considered per Francés repúblicaans as li real birth de Francia: Francia es no plu a land made up de provinces conquered per kings, ma a land de provinces e men who freely agree to form a common Nation. ti concept de a Nation agreed upon es opposed to li German concept de a Nation based on ethnicity e race, e it esset responsible por much de li conflicts between Francia e Germania in li end de li 19th century e beginning de li 20th century. Germania considered that Alsace esset a German land that had been annexed per li conquest de li Francés kings, while Francia considered that although Alsace had indeed been a conquered province in li first place, it had legitimately e freely become a part de Francia per li oath de July 14, 1790. It es thus no surprise that li 14th de July esset proclaimed li National Holiday de Francia in 1880, 9 annus pos Germania had detached Alsace-Lorraine de Francia.
- Despite being associated con li Fête de la Fédération, li 14th de July irked mult Francés monarchists, to whom it recalled li bloody memory de li storming de li Bastille. Francés monarchists used to wear a black armband each 14th de July, in defiance de li National Holiday.
- The capital e mult populous city, Paris, es considered per mult to be un de li mult famous e beautiful cities in li munde. Paris es anc home to numerous historical buildings e monuments.
- The Mont-Saint-Michel es li mult visited tourist site in Francia. altri tre popular e well-known tourist sites include: Louvre Museum, Eiffel Tower, Palace de Versailles, Disneyland Resort Paris, li châteaux de li Loire Valley, li ski resorts de li Francés Alps, Tahiti e li lagoons de Francés Polynesia, etc.
[modificar] International rankings
- Total GDP, 2004: 5th (out de 184) (munde Bank data)
- Total value de foreign trade (imports e exports), 2002: 4th (out de 185)
- Human Development Index, 2004: 16th (out de 177)
- Reporters Without Borders munde-wide press freedom index 2004: Rank 19 out de 167 landes
- Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index 2004 - 22nd de 145 landes
[modificar] External links
Template:Wikinews Template:Commons
[modificar] Directories
- CIA- li munde Factbook
- Francés Newspapers
- Official site de li Francés public service - Contains mult links to various administrations e institutions
- White Pages - Residential phone numbers de Francia Télécom (does ne include altri operators)
- Yellow Pages - Business phone numbers de Francia Télécom
- Phonebook de Francia - City, Residential e Business Phonenumbers de Phonebook de li munde
- Ferry to Francia
- Parks in Francia - National parks, nature parks, reserves e altri protected areas in Francia
[modificar] Getting Around Francia
- Book rail travel in Francia de li UK
- High-speed travel in to Francia de mult Europan landes, including li UK
[modificar] Maps e travel guides
- Template:Wikitravel
- Map de Francia - Maps de Francia e su régions
[modificar] Notes e references
- Template:Note por plu information, see Category:Francés transmarin departments, territories e collectivities
- Template:Note Rank per nominal GDP: 5 (2004); Rank per GDP per capita: 16 (2005); Rank per GDP at purchasing power parity per capita: 21 (2005).
- Template:Note According to a different calculation cited per li Pew Research Center, li EEZ de Francia would be 10,084,201 km² (3,893,532 mi²), still behind li United States (12,174,629 km² / 4,700,651 mi²), e still ahead de Australia (8,980,568 km² / 3,467,416 mi²) e Russia (7,566,673 km² / 2,921,508 mi²).
- Template:Note Template:Web reference page in Francés without apparent Anglés version available
Template:Francia ties
