France. Population and Economic Activities.

Population. The majority of the population of France are French­men. The French nation is a member of the Romanic group and was formed as a result of a mixture between the ancient Celtic in­habitants of the country (the Gauls), the Romans and members of the Germanic tribes (the Franks and others).
France numbers over 47,000,000 people. In the course of the last century the increase in its population has been slight. Hence, other large countries of Europe (Great Britain, for example) have outstripped France in amount of population. The average density of population in France (85 persons to the square kilometre) is two and a half times less that in Great Britain. Large cities are scarce. The rural population comprises almost half of the total population of the country. The percentage of poor peasantry, artisans and petty traders is high.

Fig. 63. A view of Paris.
In the foreground is the Eiffel Tower, 300 metres high. Beyond the Seine is the Palace of Chaillot where various congresses and exhibitions are held.

Economic Activities. France, like Great Britain, is an old ca­pitalist country, a former possessor of large colonies, especially in Africa. As a result of the national liberation movement, most of these have won their independence.
In industrial output France lags behind Great Britain. It has very little fuel, either coal or oil, but has large deposits of iron ore and ranks first in Western Europe in its output. France produces
1 The name given to the caterpillar   feeding on mulberry leaves. The silkworms spin cocoons from which we get silk thread.

cast iron and steel, various machines and chemicals, but in smaller quantities than England. On the other hand, France fully satisfies the demands of its population in food, which cannot be said of England. France exports iron ore, bauxite, steel, motor­cars, fertilizers, various fabrics, fashionable clothing, jewellery and expensive wines.
The capital of France is Paris. Together with its suburbs it numbers over 6,000,000 inhabitants. Paris is situated on the Seine and is a large railway and water-way junction. The oldest part of the city with its monuments of medieval architecture is situated on an island in the centre of the river. In the busy streets of the central quarter there are numerous shops, restaurants, palaces, museums and theatres (Fig. 63).
The large industrial enterprises are concentrated on the out­skirts of the city: steel works, motor-car and aircraft works, sewing factories and others.
Questions and Assignments.

g)   the railways and principal highways;
h) the airports.
3. Mark Paris on the outline map.