France is a nation in Westernmost Europe, with coastlines on both the Mediterranean Sea and the Bay of

Biscay, which is open to the Atlantic Ocean. The nation is home to approximately 62, 814, 233, with an
additional 3, 739, 533 living on territories overseas. Major society first appeared in France when Greek
traders began to operate along the Mediterranean coast of the nation. However, most of the nation was
inhabited by the Celtic peoples of Central Europe, who migrated here at the same times as many other
regions in Europe. The Romans first brought unity to the native peoples of the region, when their military
forces commanded by Julius Caesar conquered France and named it the Province of Gaul. When the
Roman Empire fell in 496 C.E., it caused the Gaul region to revert to a sparse array of agrarian villages.
This provided an opportunity for the Frankish people who originated just north of France to relocate
South, and to occupy the region. These people are the ancestors of native Franks in society today. The
boundaries of modern day France were roughly established around this time as well, as the renowned
Holy Roman Emperor King Charlemagnes three sons established the three kingdoms of France, Italy, and
Germany. For several centuries France was at peak achievement, being ahead of its time in architecture
and art, and having a strong military who made it one of the most powerful nations in Europe. However,
France would soon enter a dark age, as the bubonic plague wiped out much of its population, and it
entered into the Hundred Years War with Britain over control of certain regions in France. The French
won this war, spurred on by a young girl, Joan of Arc, who was told by God that the French were to win
the war, and that they needed to keep fighting, which they did. The Protestant Reformation also brought
about change in France and started many civil wars, as France was a very Catholic country. The Palace of
Versailles was constructed in 1682 under Louis the Fourteenth (XIV), as he moved the capital of France
form Paris to Versailles during his rule. Lavish pursuits such as these led to the French Revolution from
1789 to 1794, as the people of France were poor and starving, and desired to be given more freedom and
treated better by their Kings and Queens. Even after there was no longer an absolute governance system,
the dictatorial rule of Napoleon Bonaparte followed the revolution, and he spent all of the French
resources on fighting wars and conquering region after region to ensure the dominance of France. After he
was defeated, aristocracy was reinstated, although not as harsh as before. France suffered at the hands of
Nazi Germany in World War Two, however, becoming a divided state, with North France completely
occupied. After the end of the war, a democratic government was set up in France as a rebuilding effort,
headed by Charles de Gaulle, and a new era was born. Today, France is a technological leader, and is a
leading member in the EU, NATO, and the UN.
The modern version being a relatively recent dessert discovery, Crme Brule was invented in
1982 by French chef Alain Sailhac, and was revealed at a French restaurant in America. The dessert is
made by baking a layer of custard in an oven with a layer of caramel at the bottom, and then, after
removing the dessert, sprinkling a layer of sugar on the surface and using a torch to create a caramelized
burnt layer.