By Tim Lambert Early Amsterdam The city of Amsterdam began as a village on the River Amstel. However, in the Middle Ages, it grew rapidly as a center of trade. In 1275 Floris V, Count of Holland gave the people of ‘Amstelledamme’ to transport their goods by water through his territory. In 1306 the bishop… Continue reading A Brief History of Amsterdam
A History of Berlin
By Tim Lambert Early Berlin The great city of Berlin began in the 13th century. Originally there were 2 settlements on either side of the Spree River, Colln and Berlin. Colln was first mentioned in 1237 while Berlin was first mentioned in 1244. The two towns grew rapidly and in 1307 they made an alliance.… Continue reading A History of Berlin
A History of Budapest
By Tim Lambert Early Budapest In the 1st century AD, the Romans conquered parts of what is now Hungary. About 100 AD they created a town called Aquincum on the site of Budapest. However, in 409 the Huns captured the town. The region was then ruled by different peoples until the Magyars conquered the area… Continue reading A History of Budapest
A History of Florence Italy
By Tim Lambert Early Florence The great city of Florence was founded by the Romans in 59 BC. It was a colonia, a settlement for retired soldiers and it was called Florentia. The new town flourished and grew under Roman rule. However, in the 4th century, the Roman Empire split into two, East and West.… Continue reading A History of Florence Italy
A History of Krakow, Poland
By Tim Lambert Early Krakow According to legend Cracow was founded by a hero called Krak who killed a dragon by feeding it animal skins filled with sulfur. In reality, Krakow was a thriving settlement and a center of trade by the 10th century. Krakow was first mentioned in 965 by a Spanish merchant who… Continue reading A History of Krakow, Poland
A History of Warnford
By Tim Lambert In the Bronze Age, people built burial chambers called barrows at Beacon Hill near Warnford. So human beings have lived and farmed in the area for thousands of years. However, in the 6th century AD, a people called the Jutes from Denmark settled in central Hampshire. A tribe called the Meon gave… Continue reading A History of Warnford
A History of Warrington
By Tim Lambert Early Warrington At the time of the Domesday Book in 1086 Warrington was only a small village but in time it grew larger and more important. St Elphin’s Church existed by 1086 and probably much earlier. Furthermore, the Normans built a wooden castle at Warrington around 1070 AD. By the beginning of… Continue reading A History of Warrington
A History of Warwick
By Tim Lambert Medieval Warwick Warwick began as a Saxon settlement. The name Warwick is derived from two Saxon words, wering, which meant weir, and wic, which meant houses or settlement. So it was wering wic the settlement by the weir. In the 10th century, Warwick was made into a fortified town or burh. The… Continue reading A History of Warwick
A History of Waterlooville
By Tim Lambert The Beginning of Waterlooville Waterlooville and Cowplain did not exist before the year 1815. Before then it was part of the Forest of Bere, which stretched from the border of Sussex to Winchester. Today Queens Inclosure is one of the last remnants of the forest. On the southern fringe of the forest… Continue reading A History of Waterlooville
A History of West Meon
By Tim Lambert Early West Meon In the 6th century a people called the Jutes from Denmark settled along the Meon Valley. (As late as the 18th century the Meon Valley was called Jutedene, which meant Jute valley). The tribe who settled there were called the Meon wara (wara meant people or tribe). They gave… Continue reading A History of West Meon