World Cultures Name: Casey Marshall

___________________________
Unit I Europe Block:___4___
Exploring a European Country Research Activity
Instructions: Using the Worldmark Encyclopedia of Cultures and Daily Life (found through the library database Gale
Virtual Reference Library; username and password is colonials), research a European nation of interest to you and
complete the items below thoughtfully and completely. Be prepared to share what youve learned with your peers.
1. To what extent was this country ruled by others? Use evidence to support your answer.
France (Paris) was taken over by the Romans in 52 B.C, and have been their own nation since they were declared a
nation. They have their own president, vice president, kings, queens, etc. They have their own rules and votes, and are a
very independent nation.
2. Which 20
th
century events had the greatest influence on this country? Choose two events and explain their impact.

1. World War ll affected France because Hitler killed many of their people, and also, at the beginning of the war
France and Britain issued protection and assurance to Poland when they were the next spot on Hitlers list.
Directly after Hitler declared war upon Poland, it was a surprise to him that Britain and France immediately
declared war upon Germany, but the help they delivered to Poland was negligible.
2. Immigration also effected them heavily in the 20
th
century. Eastern-European and North-African Jewish
immigration to France largely began in the mid to late 19th century. In 1872, there was an estimated 86,000
Jews living in France, and by 1945 this would increase to 300,000.

3. Identify the following:
Topic Details
Well known cities, regions, or
landforms
Well known cities in France are the Paris and Toulouse. There are many
landforms in the area such as the La Seine river in which cuts through Paris, the
Eiffel Tower, and Notre Dame.

Relative size (size in relationship to
another place)
France is around the size of the state of Texas.
Description of natural environment Balances, colder winters and warm summers, but somewhat chilly all year.
Population size Around 60 million people live in France.
Degree of diversity
(1=homogenous; 10=very diverse)
with explanation
France is a very homogenous country and its degree of diversity would be
around a 3. 80-83% of the population follows the Roman Catholic religion.
Languages/Alphabets The languages spoken here are French, also Breton,Flemish,Spanish,Catalan,
Basque, Provenal, and English.


4. How does folklore influence the peoples worldview or actions? Explain your answer using specific details.
It would take an entire encyclopedia of folklore to describe the many different cultures of Ethiopia. Some examples
of stories are called the Abyssinian story of Solomon and Sheba, and conquering fear. These stories still exist today,
and theyre important because for every tribe they belong to, they feel as though it gives them a sense of identity.
5. What religion(s) is practiced in this country, and how does it impact the people?
A majority of the region is Roman Catholic, Protestant, and a small number of Jews and Muslims. Although most are
Catholic, less than one fifth of people attend church regularly, therefore it is not a country influenced but religion very
much.
6. Are rites of passage in this country similar to or different from rites of passage in the U.S.? Explain your answer
using specific pieces of evidence.
The countries rite of passage is very similar to the United States. The country is known to be a very modern and
industrialized and Christian way of life. Therefore, many of the rites of passage that younger generations enhance
are baptism, first Holy Communion, confirmation, and marriage.
7. What tips on interpersonal behavior might you give to an American who is about to travel to this country? Provide
at least three.
Some advice I may give to an American is to one, know the basics of the language of French. Most of the people
their speak this language, and it is very different from English. Also, I would tell them to be opened to trying new
foods, they eat very differently in France than in the United States. Lastly, if you arent Christian, please respect the
way they follow their religion.
8. Is the standard of living in this country better, worse, or about the same as that of the U.S.? Justify your answer
with at least three pieces of evidence.
The standard of living in France is just as good, if not better, than the United States. Their literacy rate is over 99%,
and their living conditions are modern, clean, and nice. They have full health care, and unlike the United States, all
costs are covered by the government, which is a reason I would consider it even better than the United States.

9. Is family important in this country? Why or why not? Use specific details in your response.
Family ties are very strong in this area. Originally, French homes were made of extended families, including
grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc. At this point, there is more nuclear families in the area. However, families still
remain very close, and important in their everyday lives in the nation.



10. Does this country have distinctive traditional clothing? Explain your answer citing specific details.
At French festivals in areas such as Alsace, traditional costumes are still worn. These tradition outfits includes white lace
blouses, dark bodices, and aprons with colorful decorations on them. However, for regular day to day activities, people
wear regular modern Western-style clothing, for formal and casual occasions. French woman have always, and continue
to be known for their style and elegance, and have some of the worlds leading fashion designers such as Coco Chanel
and Christian Dior.

11. How has globalization impacted food and diet in this country? Explain your answer using specific facts.
Each region of the country of France has its own specialty drinks and food from the area. The area is known for its well
prepared meals there. They are well renowned for their wines and cheeses, which are typically served at lunch and
dinner. The spread of these French foods have been shared with many different parts of the world, and has over time
become very popular in different places.

12. How might your educational experience in this country differ from the schooling you receive in the U.S.?
In France, school is compulsory between ages 6 to 16. Public education is free, and the state pays for text books at
any private school. There day typically starts at 8:00 AM, and they all have a two hour break for lunch, which is
typically between 12:00PM and 2:00PM. Also, one of the biggest difference in education between the United States
and France is that college there is free. They find it completely outrageous how much Americans pay for college in
the states.
13. What cultural influences or accomplishments is this country best known for? List and describe at least three.
France has made multiple contributions that have do with all the fine arts, starting with the great medieval cathedral
known as Notre Dame in Paris. Also, there is great value in writers and philosophers, and there literature has a great
influence on all national opinions. Lastly, painting was a big dominant French art, and has grown tremendously.

14. Summarize the overall economy of this country in 2-3 sentences.
About 72% of the French labor force is employed in service sector jobs, 24% in industry, and 4% in agriculture. The
French work week is a maximum 35 hours, a result of legislation passed in 2000 to deal with the problem of
unemployment. They use the euro as their form of money, and their economy is booming as of right now.

15. How do people of this country spend their leisure time? List at least five activities. Would you want to live there?
Many of the people in the country spend their time socializing in cafes, restaurants, or homes with their family and
friends. They also produce much artwork in the country, and is something people still do often. France has many shops
and boutiques, especially in Paris, and can spend much of their time shopping. They also listen to a lot of music there,
and walk around town. They typically walk because gas money is very expensive in that region, so cars are used as
minimal as possible. I would want to live in this region because of their laid back life styles, and how beautiful France is.

16. List (in order of significance) what you feel are the three biggest problems that this country needs to resolve.
1. France is affected by many of the major problems facing other European nations, such as unemployment,
pollution, and inadequate housing
2. Provisions need to be made for the elderly and immigrants, whose population is growing very rapidly.
3. Drug use is a problem, and France is a transshipment point for South American cocaine, Southwest Asian heroin,
and European synthetics.

17. Are all people treated equally in this country? Why or why not? Explain your answer using specific evidence.
I believe that the people in this country are treated equally. They all have freedoms and rights in the area, regardless
of gender, ethnicity, race, etc. They can all dress however they would like, listen to the type of music they want, and
express any kind of emotions they feel. This region is a great region with equality for all, and I think more nations
should be like this.