In the early 1500s the Renaissance swept into France and became home to artists like Leonardo da Vinci, and locals such as John Calvin rose to fame. It also brought religious arguments and resistance to the monarchy, leading to political instability until 1799 when Napoleon was democratically elected to rule France. Napoleon was a military master and by 1812 had swept through most of Europe, even taking Moscow. However not all went his way and in 1815 he was sent into exile, where he eventually died. The country again fell into chaos until 1848 when the French Revolution broke out, which created more chaos that didn't completely end until after World War I (WWI).
In 1914 WWI broke out between the Prussians (Germans) and Austrian-Hungarians against the French and English, among others. Much of the fighting took place in France as the French tried to retake their former lands of Alsace and Lorraine. Although France and their allies eventually won the war, it devastated the country and the peace treaty forced Germany to pay France for their wartime losses. This hostility destroyed both countries and created bitterness between the two, one of numerous causes of World War II.
France declared war on Germany in 1939, but by the end of 1940 France had fallen. On June 6, 1944 (D-Day), an allied invasion took the beaches of Normandy and the following year Nazi Germany had surrendered. The war led to the fall of nearly all French colonies and a rebuilding process. This rebuilding began with the Marshall Plan, which greatly contributed to the formation of the European Union (EU).
In recent history France has made amends with its neighbors, including old rivals in Germany and England. It has also become the world's most popular tourist destination, creating a more diverse country, particularly due to immigrants from former colonies in Africa and Asia.