Category: Histories of countries and key towns and cities around the world

By Tim Lambert Ancient Sri Lanka About 500 BC when a people called the Sinhalese migrated there from India. According to legend, the first settlers were led by a man named Vijaya. According to tradition, Buddhism was introduced into Sri Lanka in 260 BC by a man named Mahinda. It soon became an integral part… Continue reading A Brief History of Sri Lanka

By Tim Lambert Early Stockholm The great city of Stockholm began in the 13th century. At that time trade and commerce were increasing across Europe and many new towns were founded. In 1252 the regent of Sweden, Birger Jarl founded Stockholm. The new town grew rapidly. In 1289 it was described as the largest place… Continue reading A Brief History of Stockholm

By Tim Lambert Ancient Sweden The first humans arrived in Sweden by 8,000 BC after the end of the ice age, when warming temperatures first made the country habitable. The first Swedes were stone-age hunters and fishermen who lived near the coast. However, after 4,000 BC, farming was introduced into Sweden. The farmers used stone… Continue reading A Brief History of Sweden

By Tim Lambert Early Switzerland About 500 BC a Celtic people called the Helveti entered Switzerland from the west. However, by 58 BC the Romans ruled the area and they built a capital at Aventicum (Avenches). In the following centuries, Switzerland became thoroughly Romanized. The Romans built roads and other towns. However, in 260 a… Continue reading A Brief History of Switzerland

By Tim Lambert Ancient Syria The Ancient history of Syria is one of being conquered by one empire after another. One of the first kingdoms in what is now Syria was Elba, which arose about 3,000 BC. However, it was conquered by Sargon of Akkad about 2330 BC, and it became part of his empire.… Continue reading A Brief History of Syria

By Tim Lambert Early Tajikistan During the Bronze Age, agriculture and trade flourished in what is now Tajikistan. People built the town of Sarazm. However, the written history of Tajikistan began in the 6th century BC when the Persians conquered the region. It was the first of many empires to rule Tajikistan. The Persian Empire… Continue reading A Brief History of Tajikistan

By Tim Lambert Ancient Tanzania The first human beings in Tanzania lived by hunting animals and gathering plants. Agriculture in Tanzania probably began about 1,000 BC but the farmers still made wooden and stone tools. However, by the 4th century AD, Bantu people began to migrate to Tanzania. They brought iron tools and weapons. Meanwhile,… Continue reading A Brief History of Tanzania

By Tim Lambert Early Thailand The earliest inhabitants of what is now Thailand were hunter-gatherers. However, about 4,000 BC they began farming. They grew rice. At first, the farmers used stone tools but about 3,000 BC bronze was discovered. From about 500 BC the people of what is now Thailand used iron. At first, what… Continue reading A Brief History of Thailand

By Tim Lambert Ancient Georgia The first people in what is now Georgia were hunters and gatherers, but about 6,000 BC, they began farming. The Stone Age farmers also made pottery. By 3,000 BC, the people of what is now Georgia made bronze tools. About 1,100 BC, they started making iron tools.  By about 600… Continue reading A Brief History of the Country of Georgia

By Tim Lambert The Early Dominican Republic The Dominican Republic forms part of the island of Hispaniola. Before the Europeans arrived a people called the Arawaks lived there. However, on 6 December 1492, Christopher Columbus landed in the northwest and called the island Espanola, which was later anglicized as Hispaniola. Spanish settlers founded San Domingo… Continue reading A Brief History of the Dominican Republic