In its cradle, it was far from certain whether France would become a single, centralized state. It was in a rag-tag pile of states, although they eventually managed to develop into a single strong nation and shaped the world around it.
But what if it didn't? What if France followed the same path Germany and Italy followed, and became a collection of small states that were more interested in the furthering of their own personal power base rather than for the good of France? How could this come about, and what would the most obvious effects be?
But what if it didn't? What if France followed the same path Germany and Italy followed, and became a collection of small states that were more interested in the furthering of their own personal power base rather than for the good of France? How could this come about, and what would the most obvious effects be?