France to America (western Catholic expansion)

Key contributions include the development of Gothic architecture, advances in scientific theory and research by figures like Georges Lemaître's Big Bang theory and Jean-Baptiste Lamarck's theory of evolution, the establishment of early universities, and the spread of French culture and institutions globally through missionary work and colonization. French Catholic institutions were often on the front lines of social work, running numerous charitable organizations, orphanages, and hospitals around the world. The 18th century saw a rise of secularism and philosophical challenges to the Church's influence in France, leading to a complex relationship between religious and state power. Following the massacres and persecutions under the Ottoman Empire, and due to ongoing instability in the Middle East, a Syriac diaspora formed across the globe, including in France.