By: George Friedman
Published: 3 / 12 / 2012; http://finance.townhall.com/columnists/georgefriedman
Level of Difficulty: ****
Note to the Reader: This text is an 8 page
summary / analysis of centuries of French history and as such, is an invaluable
source of information and general culture.
QUESTIONS
Read the first seven paragraphs
1.
It
is astonishing that so many have tried to unite Europe throughout history. In
fact, ………………………… make(s) such unity impossible.
2.
Which
sentence best summarizes the information in paragraph 2?
3.
The
unique geographical features of Northern and Southern Europe have led to a host
of ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
4.
At
the end of paragraph 4, the writer says “It is a recipe for wars of domination
a simple fact born out in centuries of European history”. Which sentence in the
same paragraph best qualifies this statement?
5.
Read
until the end of paragraph 7 and state in
your own words why France is “the only European power that can attempt to
project power in any portion of the European theatre”.
6.
France’s
failure in terms of complete European domination stems from ……………………………….
Read “The Geography of France”
7.
France’s
most important strategic advantage could be a disadvantage as well since it
could lead France …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
8.
In
paragraph 13, the writer states that “The Beauce region is therefore the French
core”. Why is this so? The region is
home to ……………………………………………………………………………And don’t copy out the whole paragraph; I
want a short direct answer that says it all!
9.
The
idea of moving the capital from Paris to Orleans was abandoned due to the desire
to ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
10.
What
does “this” refer to in the phrase “this gave France enormous strategic
advantage over its continental rivals”?
Read “Phase One”
11.
The
transformation of the traditional army of France was triggered by
…………………………….The birth of this new fighting force in turn triggered
………………………………… as a political system.
12.
What
does”this solution” in paragraph 18 refer to?
13.
The
price France paid for stopping the Umayyad was …………………………………………………………
14.
It
was not only the fractured structure of France at the time that encouraged
foreign intervention. ………………………………… also played a part.
15.
What
positive effect did the 100 years war ultimately have on the French political
structure?
16.
In
what fundamental way does France differ from other European countries according
to the text?
Read “Phase Two”
17.
France’s
support of Scottish separatists, its alliance with the Ottoman Empire and with
Protestant German entities were all outcomes of France’s policy of
………………………………………
18.
What
was the underlying reason why France “found itself unable to remake Europe in
its own image”? Use your own words.
19.
What
were the two grave consequences of the extended wars France fought in the 18th
century?
Read “Phase Three”
20.
The
emergence of republican France was due to the following two reasons: firstly,
the French Revolution which gave birth to …………………………….. and secondly, the now entrenched French tradition of
……………………………………………..
21.
What
radical change took place in terms of foreign policy as a result of the above
and why did it ultimately fail?
22.
What
was France’s lasting legacy to the rest of the world?
23.
What
does “It” refer to in the sentence “It didn’t work”?
24.
What
made Germany a much more powerful nation state?
Read “Phase Four”
25.
The
writer states: “From the French point of view, the difference between WWII’s
beginning and end was stunning”. What were the two reasons for this state of
affairs?
26.
In
paragraph 42, the writer states that”It was a solid plan”. What was a solid
plan? Refer back to paragraphs 40 and 41 and use your own words.
27.
The
biggest problem that the collapse of the USSR created for France was …………………France
dealt with this problem by ………………………………………
28.
How
exactly did France entrap Germany?
29.
At the end of paragraph 46, the writer says
“this time, France is in the cage with Germany”. What exactly does he mean?
Explain in your own words.
Read “Geopolitical Imperatives”
30.
What
could make it possible for France to “secure a large hinterland without too
much trouble”?
31.
Why
does France need to look east?
32.
What
does “this strategy” in paragraph 53 refer to?
33.
France’s
attitude to the loss of its colonies was very different from that of other
colonial powers because ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
34.
Why
does France specially need to make less than ideal alliances?
35.
On
reading the last paragraph, what impression do you get of the writer’s view
concerning France’s ability to meet the current challenges?
KEY AND TEACHER’S NOTES
I fell in love with this text for the simple reason that it covers
twelve centuries of French history in eight pages in the form of a brilliantly
thought out essay. You have all that history, faultless English and a brilliant
essay all in one! Simply irresistible! I would cover it and check answers in
sections. Don’t let the length scare you off; it will go swimmingly I
guarantee. I am very very rarely wrongJ I have done texts of
this length and longer in class before and provided the text is good and you
are on board, it will fly.
1.
Geographic features
2.
The
combination of a fertile, easily traversable coastal plain with seven major
rivers guarantees both agricultural surplus and the ability to move them easily
and cheaply.
3.
Differing
political, social and economic cultures.
4.
The
first Or Mix…..
5.
Possible
answer: because the three places where the fragmentation of Europe doesn’t hold
are all within the borders of France.
6.
Its
size
7.
To
ignore the threats ……………..
8.
Navigable
rivers, warm climate, sufficient rainfall, good drainage and fertile soil.
9.
To benefit from oceanic trade routes but be far enough away to be insulated from a direct naval invasion.
10.
The
previous sentence.
11.
The
Umayyad Caliphate’s invasion of Europe; feudalism
12.
The
king ceding land to his vassals enabling them to maintain mounted knights.
13.
Decentralization
14.
Ethnic
(linguistic) disunity.
15.
Centralization
and coordination of resources
16.
It
is the most centralized in the world
17.
Doing
anything to prevent its enemies from massing forces…
18.
The
rest of the European states well understood that France could be the next to
rule Europe and formed coalitions to prevent it.
19.
The
French Revolution, missing the emergence of Prussia
20.
Nationalism,
centralization.
21.
French
power poured forth across Europe and North Africa OR It launched an all out
invasion of the entire western world.
22.
The
innovation of the nation state.
23.
The
same strategies its monarchist predecessors used OR a complex web of military alliances
24.
Its
precarious geographic position in the middle of Europe required efficiency,
much larger natural and demographic resources
25.
Far
from being a threat post-was Germany was France’s new Maginot line, far from
being exposed and vulnerable, France found itself facing the most congenial
constellation of forces in history.
26.
France’s
European project
27.
The reunification of Germany, ensuring that
continued German membership in European institutions remained in Germany’s
interest.
28.
By
handing over Europe’s economic policy to the Germans
29.
France
has deep economic ties with Germany and the EU. Any harm to Germany will affect
them also.
30.
There
are no other powers that are well positioned to interfere with this process.
31.
Because
it has only one land approach to defend against.
32.
Complicating
the life of France’s foes.
33.
They
were not designed to be profitable OR It didn’t unduly harm France when they
were lost or traded away.
34.
The
resources it has are not sufficient to deal with the multiple challenges…
35.
Positive
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