In 5 separate live classes students will learn about 5 incredible leaders in French history that together tell a story the story of France. If students know these five people, they'll have a good overview of modern French History. Other figures and events will be discussed as those figures intersect with the five chosen for this class.

This is an engaging class that encourages student participation, but participation is not required. Polls, quizzes, and other activities will be utilized during class to engage students.

In each session we will learn about:

Session 1:
Joan of Arc. Chosen by God to lead France to victory over England? That's what Joan of Arc believed. However, she's captured by the English and at the age of 19 is burned at the stake.

Session 2:
King Louis XIV. Marie Antoinette and King Louis XVI were famously killed in the French Revolution, but King Louis XIV was perhaps a more important French King -- and his actions helped lead to the demise of the French Monarch. He's also the creator of the famous palace at Versailles.

Session 3:
Voltaire. The Enlightenment helped lead to the French Revolution and one of the Enlightenment's most important philosopher's was Voltaire. He was a prolific writer. He didn't like monarchy, the church, or democracy and was at one time forced to live in exile from France.

Session 4:
Napoleon Bonaparte. Napoleon rose to power at the end of the French Revolution and made himself emperor at the famed Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris. He represents an era of French power and dominance and as emperor he would rule over most of Europe -- but this era of French power and dominance was gained by military conquest.

Session 5:
Monet. A history of France that discussed only revolutionaries, politicians, and military leaders would not be complete. The French value the arts and the good things in life. At the prime of his career, Monet was considered the preeminent artist in France. He is still considered one of the great French artists of all time. He also founded the Impressionist movement, one of the major movements in art history and had a major influence on future artists.

This is a great survey course of French history from 1400 to the present and students will be inspired by these larger than life figures.