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French territory through time (2/2)
This sheet presents a major historical landmark: French colonisation. Colonisation is the conquest and control of one territory by another.
Key points of the sheet
- Europe begins colonisation from 1400. It speeds up strongly, above all after 1700.
- Between 1700 and 1800, France is one of the main colonial powers. The State encourages colonisation: it gives trade privileges to private companies.
- Sea trade grows thanks to merchants and shipowners. The ports of Nantes, Bordeaux and La Rochelle become rich.
- The "triangular" trade links Europe, Africa and the Americas. Goods go to Africa, enslaved people to America, and colonial products to Europe.
- This trade makes the slave trade and slavery possible. Between 13 and 15 million Africans are deported to the Americas between 1500 and 1900.
- Enslaved people have no rights. They work on plantations in the colonies, for example sugar cane, cotton or coffee.
- Slavery is abolished in 1794, brought back by Napoleon in 1802, then abolished for good in 1848. In 2001, the Taubira law recognises it as a crime against humanity.
Words to know
- colonisation
- It is the conquest and control of one territory by another.
- merchants (négociants)
- They are sellers. They help international sea trade to grow.
- shipowners (armateurs)
- They are the owners of the ships.
- triangular trade (commerce “triangulaire”)
- It is trade between Europe, Africa and the Americas. The ships' route draws a triangle on a map.
- slave trade (traite négrière)
- Transatlantic trade makes it possible. Between 13 and 15 million Africans are deported to the Americas between 1500 and 1900.
- Taubira law (loi Taubira)
- In 2001, this law recognises slavery as a crime against humanity.
Test yourself: 3 questions
Who brings slavery back in 1802?
In French, the language of the exam: Qui rétablit l'esclavage en 1802 ?
Slavery is abolished in 1794, then brought back by Napoleon in 1802.
In which year does the Taubira law recognise slavery as a crime against humanity?
In French, the language of the exam: En quelle année la loi Taubira reconnaît-elle l'esclavage comme crime contre l'humanité ?
In 2001, the Taubira law recognises slavery as a crime against humanity.
How many Africans are deported to the Americas between 1500 and 1900?
In French, the language of the exam: Combien d'Africains sont déportés vers les Amériques entre 1500 et 1900 ?
The sheet says that between 13 and 15 million Africans are deported to the Americas between 1500 and 1900.
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Questions on the ministry's list that rest on this sheet
- In which year is slavery abolished for good in France?
- In which year was slavery finally abolished in France?
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Source
Sheet “Le territoire français dans le temps (2/2)” of the French Ministry of the Interior: formation-civique.interieur.gouv.fr. Content published under the Etalab Open Licence 2.0. This page is a plain-language adaptation made by Hexaciv, which is not an official site: if in doubt, the ministry's text is the one that counts.
Ministry sheet read on 23 October 2026, still identical on 25 October 2026.