We all know that the world is old. I mean REALLY old. For me, that's part of it's charm in traveling. Wandering around old building and ruins in distant lands...being able to see and touch history...gives me a sense of where we all (frogs and humans, too) came from and where we might be going. I found a rather interesting article the other day that I thought I'd share with you. The piece talked about five cities that are maybe even older than you think they are. Today, I will tell you about three of them.
1. Paris - My very favorite city! Beneath this wonderful metropolis lies the remains of a city built by a Celtic tribe - the Parisii who were already living there by the time the Romans swept through there and conquered its people. The Parisii people called their city, an island formed by the River Seine, Lutetia. Before Rome came storming in, the Parisii traded with other neighboring groups. They mapped the area and even minted coins. In the 50s B.C. the Romans under the command of Julius Caesar swept into the area and took over the Parisii land, including the Lutetia. It would later become the City of Paris. The newcomers modernized the city by added things like Roman bathhouses but it would take many centuries for it to become the City of Lights that we all love. PS. Today is #NationalCroissantDay so why not celebrate Paris with a flaky buttery croissant with your tea or coffee? Vive la France!
2. London - The city was once known as Londinium and was founded after Claudius invaded the island in the 40s B.C. But only a decade or so later, the British Warrior Queen Boudicca rose up against the Romans in 60-61 A.D. Before her rebellion was squashed, Boudicca reportedly killed "about 70,000 citizens and allies." Arccheologists have found burned layers of the city dating to that time, corroborating the idea that London "was burned to crisp" during this time in history. Over the next several centuries, London became the most prominent city in Roman Britain. Eventually, the extensive Roman control of Britain grew tedious and Rome withdrew its military presence in the early part of the 5th century A.D.
3. Mexico City - The great Aztec city of Tenochtitlan traced its mythical foundation to a great eagle. When migrants came to the area in the fourteenth century A.D, the hummingbird god Huitzilopochtli morphed into an eagle in front of them. As the story goes, the bird landed on a cactus near lake Texcoco where the group founded a city. The name means "next to the nopal cactus fruit of the rock" in the Nahuatl language. The first stone set down was even done so in honor to Huitz. During the next two centuries the Aztec people founded a great empire where the kings built aqueducts and massive temples. The civilization flourished and a rich culture and lore developed. "However, the conquistador Hernan Cortes invaded the Aztec lands, massacred its people, and made Tenochtitlan the basis of what is today Mexico City."
I've enjoyed learning a little of the history surrounding a few of the world's great cities. I hope you have, too! Want to more about about these cities as well as Damascus and Milan? Then check out the full article.
Silver, Carly. "5 Famous Cities With Ancient Origins." ThoughtCo, Jan. 23, 2018, thoughtco.com/famous-cities-with-ancient-origins-118468.
1. Paris - My very favorite city! Beneath this wonderful metropolis lies the remains of a city built by a Celtic tribe - the Parisii who were already living there by the time the Romans swept through there and conquered its people. The Parisii people called their city, an island formed by the River Seine, Lutetia. Before Rome came storming in, the Parisii traded with other neighboring groups. They mapped the area and even minted coins. In the 50s B.C. the Romans under the command of Julius Caesar swept into the area and took over the Parisii land, including the Lutetia. It would later become the City of Paris. The newcomers modernized the city by added things like Roman bathhouses but it would take many centuries for it to become the City of Lights that we all love. PS. Today is #NationalCroissantDay so why not celebrate Paris with a flaky buttery croissant with your tea or coffee? Vive la France!
2. London - The city was once known as Londinium and was founded after Claudius invaded the island in the 40s B.C. But only a decade or so later, the British Warrior Queen Boudicca rose up against the Romans in 60-61 A.D. Before her rebellion was squashed, Boudicca reportedly killed "about 70,000 citizens and allies." Arccheologists have found burned layers of the city dating to that time, corroborating the idea that London "was burned to crisp" during this time in history. Over the next several centuries, London became the most prominent city in Roman Britain. Eventually, the extensive Roman control of Britain grew tedious and Rome withdrew its military presence in the early part of the 5th century A.D.
3. Mexico City - The great Aztec city of Tenochtitlan traced its mythical foundation to a great eagle. When migrants came to the area in the fourteenth century A.D, the hummingbird god Huitzilopochtli morphed into an eagle in front of them. As the story goes, the bird landed on a cactus near lake Texcoco where the group founded a city. The name means "next to the nopal cactus fruit of the rock" in the Nahuatl language. The first stone set down was even done so in honor to Huitz. During the next two centuries the Aztec people founded a great empire where the kings built aqueducts and massive temples. The civilization flourished and a rich culture and lore developed. "However, the conquistador Hernan Cortes invaded the Aztec lands, massacred its people, and made Tenochtitlan the basis of what is today Mexico City."
I've enjoyed learning a little of the history surrounding a few of the world's great cities. I hope you have, too! Want to more about about these cities as well as Damascus and Milan? Then check out the full article.
Silver, Carly. "5 Famous Cities With Ancient Origins." ThoughtCo, Jan. 23, 2018, thoughtco.com/famous-cities-with-ancient-origins-118468.
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