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Evolution of the French colonial empire

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From the 16th to the 17th centuries, the First French colonial empire stretched from a total area at its peak in 1680 to over 10,000,000 km2 (3,900,000 sq mi), the second largest empire in the world at the time behind only the Spanish Empire.[1][2] During the 19th and 20th centuries, the French colonial empire was the second largest colonial empire in the world only behind the British Empire; it extended over 13,500,000 km2 (5,200,000 sq mi)[3][4] of land at its height in the 1920s and 1930s. In terms of population however, on the eve of World War II, France and her colonial possessions totaled only 150 million inhabitants, compared with 330 million for British India alone. The total area of the French colonial empire, with the first (mainly in the Americas and Asia) and second (mainly in Africa and Asia), the French colonial empires combined, reached 24,000,000 km2 (9,300,000 sq mi), the second largest in the world (the first being the British Empire).[5][6] The French colonial empire had an enormous impact on world history. France had about 80 colonies throughout its history, the second most colonies in the world behind only the British Empire.[7] Around 40 countries gained independence from France throughout its history, the second most in the world behind only the British Empire.[8] Over 50% of the world's borders today, were drawn as a result of British and French imperialism.[9][10][11]

This is a list of all territories that were part of the French colonial empires in the last 500 years, either entirely or in part, either under French sovereignty or as mandate or protectorate. When only a part of the country was under French rule, that part is listed in parentheses after the country. When there are no parentheses, it means the whole country was formerly part of any one of the French colonial empires. Countries listed are those where French sovereignty applied effectively. Areas that were only claimed, but not effectively controlled (such as Manhattan or Western Australia) are not listed.

N.B.
  • "1st" means the country/territory was part of the first French colonial empire. (pre 1814/1815)
  • "2nd" means the country/territory was part of the second French colonial empire. (post 1830)
  • "Now" means this is a territory still part of the French Republic today.

The Americas

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North America

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Main article: New France

Caribbean

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South America

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(see France Antarctique and France Équinoxiale)

Africa

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North Africa

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Name of territory Dates Status Comments
Algeria 1830 Colony
1848 annexed to France
1962 Independent
Morocco 1912 protectorate
1956 Independent
Egypt 1798 protectorate
1801 Independent
Tunisia 1881 protectorate
1956 Independent

West Africa

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Equatorial Africa

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Indian Ocean

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Red Sea

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Asia

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Middle East

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South Asia

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East Asia

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South East Asia

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Oceania

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Antarctic Ocean

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Western colonialism - European expansion since 1763". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  2. ^ Havard, Vidal, Histoire de L'Amérique française, Flammarion, 2003, p. 67.
  3. ^ Robert Aldrich, Greater France: A History of French Overseas Expansion (1996) p 304
  4. ^ Melvin E. Page, ed. (2003). Colonialism: An International Social, Cultural, and Political Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO. p. 218. ISBN 9781576073353. Archived from the original on 19 November 2021. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
  5. ^ Robert Aldrich, Greater France: A History of French Overseas Expansion (1996) p 304
  6. ^ Melvin E. Page, ed. (2003). Colonialism: An International Social, Cultural, and Political Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO. p. 218. ISBN 9781576073353. Archived from the original on 19 November 2021. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
  7. ^ Shillington, Kevin (2005). Encyclopedia of African history. New York: CRC Press, p. 878
  8. ^ David Armitage, The Declaration of Independence in World Context, Organization of American Historians, Magazine of History, Volume 18, Issue 3, Pp. 61–66 (2004)
  9. ^ Manning, Patrick (1990). Slavery and African Life: Occidental, Oriental, and African Slave Trades. London: Cambridge University Press.
  10. ^ Lovejoy, Paul E. (2012). Transformations of Slavery: A History of Slavery in Africa. London: Cambridge University Press.
  11. ^ Martin Klein, "Slave Descent and Social Status in Sahara and Sudan", in Reconfiguring Slavery: West African Trajectories, ed. Benedetta Rossi (Liverpool: Liverpool University Press, 2009), 29.
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