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Sometimes, there are things you wish you knew more about. For, example, who invented the metric system? The stapler? Hairdryers? All these things were invented by French people! Here are 10 things you didn’t know were invented by French people.

It’s always good to have some stories or anecdotes to share during evenings with friends, isn’t it?

Things That Were Invented by French People

1Braille (Louis Braille)

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The first braille system was developed by Charles Barbier to create a military code that Napoleon’s soldiers could use at night without turning on a light. Unfortunately, it was too hard for the soldiers to recognize the touch so it was dismissed. Barbier met Louis Braille at the Royal Institute for the Blind in Paris, and Brailler was able to modify the code and simplify it so blind people could use it.

2Hot air balloons (Joseph-Michel and Jacques-Étienne Montgolfier)

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The two brothers Joseph-Michel and Jacques-Étienne Montgolfier (hence the French name Montgolfière) were the ones who developed this mode of transportation. They first demonstrated an unmanned 10-minute flight, and then one with animals. Finally, they tried with a human in 1783. Before becoming a fun, touristic mode of transportation, it was used in the battle of Fleurus in 1794 for observations.

3Canning (Nicolas Appert)

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Canning was invented during the Napoleonic wars in order to preserve food for a long period of time. The French government asked the population to invent a way to store food so it would stay fresh longer and would award 12,000 francs to whoever had the best method. Nicolas Appert who was a confectioner and brewer realized that when food and drinks were stored in glass jars and were properly sealed, the food stayed good.

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