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

By Tim Lambert Ancient Norway The first people arrived in Norway after 7,000 BC when rising temperatures after the end of the last ice age made the country habitable. The first Norwegians lived by hunting (elk, deer, seals, and whales) and by fishing. After 3,000 BC farming was introduced into Norway. The earliest farmers made… Continue reading A Short History of Norway

By Tim Lambert Early Oman As early as 2,300 BC Oman was recorded by the Sumerians of Ancient Iraq as being a rich source of copper. In Ancient Times Oman was also a source of frankincense. After about 500 BC Oman was controlled by the Persian Empire based in what is now Iran. Later they… Continue reading A Short History of Oman

By Tim Lambert Ancient and Medieval Paris The city of Paris began in the 3rd century BC when a Celtic tribe called the Parisii built a fortified settlement on the Ile de la Cite. The Romans conquered the Parisii in 52 AD and they built a town on the River Seine. The Romans called Paris… Continue reading A Short History of Paris

By Tim Lambert Dedicated to Agnieszka Jurkowska Poland in the Middle Ages The written history of Poland began in the 10th century. At that time, Poland was ruled by a dynasty called the Piasts. A Piast named Mieszko I reigned from about 960 to 992. In 966, he became a Christian, and his people followed.… Continue reading A Short History of Poland

By Tim Lambert Ancient Portugal Human beings have lived in Portugal since about 30,000 BC when the world was in the grip of an ice age. The first Portuguese were hunters and fishermen. They also gathered plants for food. They wore leather clothes and they made stone tools. In about 5,000 BC farming was introduced… Continue reading A Short History of Portugal

By Tim Lambert Ancient Romania The earliest inhabitants of Romania were Stone Age hunters who lived about 8,000 BC. In time the people of Romania learned to farm and then they learned to make bronze tools. Eventually, they learned to use iron. From about 600 BC the ancient Greeks traded with the people they called… Continue reading A Short History of Romania

By Tim Lambert Russia in the Middle Ages In the early 9th century Slavic tribes lived in what is now Russia and Ukraine. However, Vikings captured Novgorod in 862 and Kyiv in 882. They created a new nation was called Rus. In time its Viking rulers adopted the customs and language of the native Slavic… Continue reading A Short History of Russia

By Tim Lambert The Foundation of Singapore According to legend, Singapore was founded centuries ago when a prince from Sumatra landed on the island and saw a lion. He took it as a good omen and founded a city called Singapura, which means lion city. The legend may or may not be true. The name… Continue reading A Short History of Singapore

By Tim Lambert Early Slovakia Slavs settled in what is now Slovakia in the 6th century AD. They were soon conquered by a people called the Avars. However, at the end of the 8th century, the Slavs drove the Avars out. In the 9th century, Slovakia became part of the state of Great Moravia, which… Continue reading A Short History of Slovakia