The colony of Massalia is founded by the Ancient Greeks. This would later become the city of Marseille, the oldest city in France

Celtic tribes begin to settle in the region

Southeastern France (called Provence) is taken over by the Roman Republic

Julius Caesar conquers Gaul (most of modern day France)

The Gallic Empire is founded by Postumus. It would fall to the Roman Empire in 274

The Franks begin to settle the region

Other tribes enter the area and take over different areas including the Visigoths, Vandals, and the Burgundians

The collapse of the Western Roman Empire

Clovis I becomes the first King of the Franks uniting all the Frankish tribes under one rule

The Franks defeat the Arabs at the Battle of Tours

Charlemagne becomes King of the Franks. He will greatly expand the Frankish Empire

Charlemagne is crowned the Holy Roman Emperor. He implements reforms including the first public schools and a monetary standard

The Frankish Empire is divided between Charlemagne's sons creating regions that would later become the kingdoms of France and Germany

Duke William of Normandy conquers England

Construction begins on the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. It would not be finished until 1345

The start of the Hundred Years' War with the English

The Black Death plague spreads through France killing a large percentage of the population

The English defeat the French at the Battle of Agincourt

Peasant girl Joan of Arc leads the French to victory over the English at the Siege of Orleans

The English burn Joan of Arc to death at the stake

The Hundred Years' War comes to an end when the French defeat the English at the Battle of Castillon

A time of peace and prosperity for France

French explorer Samuel de Champlain founds Quebec City in the New World

The start of the Thirty Years' War

Louis XIV becomes King of France. He will rule for 72 years and become known as Louis the Great and the Sun King

The start of the Seven Years' War. It would end in 1763 with France losing New France to Great Britain

France becomes involved in the American War of Independence helping the colonies gain their independence from the United Kingdom

The French Revolution begins with the storming of the Bastille

The Louvre museum is established

King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette are executed by guillotine

Napoleon takes power overthrowing the French Directory

Napoleon is crowned Emperor of France

The French Empire under Napoleon controls much of Europe

Napoleon is defeated at Waterloo and sent into exile

The July Revolution occurs

The Paris Commune is declared

Impressionist artists hold their first independent art exhibition in Paris

The Eiffel Tower is built in Paris for the World's Fair

Paris, France hosts the second modern day Summer Olympics

France enters into the Triple Entente, an alliance with Russia and the United Kingdom

World War I begins. France is invaded by Germany

The Battle of the Somme is fought against Germany

World War I comes to an end with the Treaty of Versailles

World War II begins

Germany invades France

Allied forces invade at Normandy pushing back the German Army

The Germany army surrenders and World War II comes to an end in Europe

Charles de Gaulle is elected the President of France

Francois Mitterrand is elected president

France signs the Maastricht Treaty creating the European Union

France wins the World Cup soccer championship

The Euro replaces the French Franc as the official currency of France