The textbook briefly highlights the key problems of the philosophy of history that were formulated during the formation of the French intellectual tradition. A study of various approaches to understanding history and the methodological strategies for comprehending history that have developed in the context of these approaches will allow a deeper understanding of the nature of the French mentality and the peculiarities of the national culture of France. The textbook is addressed to graduate students studying in the educational program "French Philosophy" of the direction "Philosophy," and can also be useful for researchers of other fields of philosophy and other related disciplines that touch upon the problems of history.