Joan of Arc, Mother of Nations

[empther]

Joan of Arc turned around the Hundred Years’ War and saved France as an independent nation. Historians acknowledge that. But that’s where they stop.

What if Joan had not saved France?

Then… England would have had an empire on the European continent instead of being restricted to their island as we know in our history.

Then… France would have been open to be cut up in pieces by surrounding warlords in Spain, Italy, and Germany.

Then… French culture as we know it would not have arisen.

Then… the relationships between England, the French territory, Spain, Germany, Italy and other countries would have been changed from what we know.

Then… the balance of powers in Europe would have been changed from what we know.

Then… the history of Europe for the past six hundred years would have been changed from what we know.

Then… the discovery, exploration and settlement of the New World would have been changed from what we know.

Then… the map of the New World today would be completely different from what we know.

No United States of America. Another counrtry, or other countries, here. Other peoples living here, and probably not as well. Your town, your family, yourself? Never existed. You and I would not be here.

 

[raphaela]

Never thought of it that way!! Thanks!

 

[empther]

Raphaela,

When Joan was captured the English led her on a long winding journey through Northern France, as if they didn’t know what to do with her, finally ending up in Rouen on Christmas eve.

One of the towns they passed through was on the coast of the English Channel. Joan must have gotten her first and only glimpse of the sea.

It was already known that there was an India and China far to the East. Here, Joan could see that Europe was not the whole world, but that the world was many times larger than she had imagined, because on the other side of this immense sea she was looking at there had to be more lands and more peoples. I like to think she suspected that what she had done for France would become known in, and have effects in, that larger world.