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

By Tim Lambert Early Shanghai Shanghai is one of China’s great cities. By the 11th century AD, Shanghai was a small market town. It grew steadily larger and in 1533 a wall was built around the town. Later in the 16th century, Yuyuan Garden was created. By 1700 Shanghai had a population of about 50,000… Continue reading A History of Shanghai China

By Tim Lambert Early Sitka The indigenous people of Southeast Alaska were the Tlingit. They were hunter-gatherers. They mostly depended on fishing for their livelihood, although they also hunted mammals like seals. The Russians first arrived in Alaska in 1741. They built their first settlement at Unalaska in 1772. In 1790, Aleksander Baranov (1746-1819) was… Continue reading A History of Sitka Alaska

By Tim Lambert Sydney is Founded Sydney was founded in 1788 when the first fleet arrived in Australia from England. On 13 May 1787, a fleet of 11 ships set sail from Portsmouth, England. Onboard were 759 convicts, most of them men with sailors and marines to guard the prisoners. With them, they took seeds,… Continue reading A History of Sydney

By Tim Lambert The Ancient City of Rome There was a settlement in Rome by the mid-8th century BC. In the 6th century BC, it was ruled by Etruscan kings. The kings were advised by the Senate, a body that consisted of Roman aristocrats or patricians. However, in 510 BC the Romans rebelled and expelled… Continue reading A History of the City of Rome

By Tim Lambert The Foundation of Toronto For ten thousand years native people lived on the site of the city of Toronto. The first European to reach the area was a Frenchman named Etienne Brule in 1615. However, the first European settlement was a French trading fort called built in Fort Rouille in about 1750.… Continue reading A History of Toronto

By Tim Lambert Dedicated to Agata Ulanowska Torun in The Middle Ages Torun is a historic city in Poland. It is famous for its many Medieval buildings. The town of Torun was founded by the Teutonic Knights (an order of German knights who ruled parts of the Baltic). On 28 December 1233, Torun was given… Continue reading A History of Torun Poland

By Tim Lambert The Foundation of Vancouver For 10,000 years, native people lived on the site of Vancouver. A Spaniard named Jose Maria Narvaez reached the area by sea in 1791. However, in 1792, George Vancouver claimed the land for Britain. In 1808, Simon Fraser reached the area after travelling overland. The Fraser River was… Continue reading A History of Vancouver

By Tim Lambert Early Venice According to tradition, Venice was founded in 421 AD. At that time a Celtic people called the Veneti lived along the coast of what is now Northeast Italy. Since 49 BC they had been Roman citizens. However, in 453 Attila the Hun invaded Italy. In terror, some Veneti fled to… Continue reading A History of Venice

By Tim Lambert Dedicated to Karina Smulska Early Warsaw Warsaw developed later than other Polish towns. By the 10th century, there was a small settlement on the River Wisla. However, it didn’t grow into a town until the 14th century. In 1413 Warsaw became the capital of the Duchy of Mazovia. Then in 1526, Mazovia… Continue reading A History of Warsaw

By Tim Lambert The Foundation of Washington DC Washington DC was founded to be the capital of the United States. The first European to explore the area was Englishman John Smith in 1608. Later in the 17th century settlers created tobacco plantations worked by black slaves. The town of Alexandria was founded in 1749 and… Continue reading A History of Washington DC