In this insightful lecture, Viking Resident Historian Paul Dawson traces the long and complex history of France, from its early foundations through the medieval period and into the age of absolute monarchy. Exploring the emergence of French identity, the consolidation of royal power and the political and social tensions that defined the nation, Paul examines how the reign of Louis XIV and his successors sowed the seeds of unrest that would ultimately erupt in the Revolution of 1789. Drawing on his academic career and deep personal ties to France, this presentation provides essential historical context for understanding the forces that shaped the country as we know it.