How old is the oldest city in the world. The most ancient cities of East Asia

Incredible Facts

Cities that have stood the test of time have more than just the scars of history.

They talk about the positive and negative impact of human civilization.

The oldest cities in the world boast beautiful architecture and amazing stories, although surprisingly, only a few ancient cities have survived to this day.


1. Damascus, Syria


Damascus is considered the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world, with signs of habitation dating back as early as 11,000 years. Its location and stability has allowed the city to become a link for civilizations that have come and gone. Today, about 2.5 million people live in its metropolitan area and in 2008 it was named the Arab Capital of Culture.

2. Jericho, West Bank


Fortifications discovered in Jericho that date back to 6800 B.C. confirm that it is the earliest known walled city, and evidence of human habitation in the area dates back to 11,000, which means that it is a serious contender for the title of the oldest city in the world. It sounds incredible, but Jericho has remained populated and fairly dry throughout its history, despite its location well below sea level. This fact contributed to the fact that the city became the lowest permanently inhabited place on Earth. To date, Jericho has become home to 20,000 people.

3. Aleppo, Syria


Evidence of settlement in Aleppo dates back 8,000 years, but excavations 25 km north of the city show that the area was inhabited as early as 13,000 years ago. This means that Aleppo and its environs are the oldest known human settlements in the world. The city was first mentioned in cuneiform tablets approximately 5,000 years ago, where its commercial and military knowledge is mentioned. Since it was located between the Mediterranean Sea and Mesopotamia, being at the end of the Silk Road, which passed through Central Asia and Mesopotamia, Aleppo was the center of the ancient world. Today it is the largest city in Syria.

4. Athens, Greece


An ancient center of philosophy and the birthplace of Western civilization, Athens boasts a history of settlement that dates back long before the times of Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. The city has been continuously inhabited for at least 7,000 years. The oldest human presence in Athens dates back to the period between 11 and 7 thousand years BC. Today it remains a sprawling metropolis, with its Acropolis still standing, towering over the landscape.

5. Argos, Greece


Being an urban settlement for at least the last 7000 years, Argos competes with Athens for the title of the most ancient city in Europe. The city has always been powerful, and its dominant position in the fertile plains of Argolis has earned it a strong position, although there are periods of neutrality in its history. For example, the city refused to fight or send supplies during the Greco-Roman wars. Perhaps for this reason, the city has stood the test of time.

6. Plovdiv, Bulgaria


Plovdiv was originally a Thracian settlement, known as Philippopolis in Greek, and was the largest city for the Romans. For some time, the Ottomans also ruled here. This beautiful city has a rich history going back thousands of years. Evidence of settlement dates back over 6,000 years ago. Today it is still the second largest city in Bulgaria and remains an important economic, cultural and educational centre.

7. Byblos, Lebanon


Although there is evidence of settlement as early as 7,000 years ago, Byblos has been a continuous city for about 5,000 years. According to the ancient writer Philo of Byblos, in ancient times the city was the oldest city in the world. Interestingly, the word Bible comes from "Byblos" (Byblos), since it was through Byblos that papyrus was imported to Greece.

8. Sidon, Lebanon


Inhabited for at least 6,000 years, Sidon was one of the most important Phoenician cities due to its location as a key port in the Mediterranean, being literally a gateway to great empires including the Assyrian, Babylonian, Egyptian, Greek and Ottoman. Today, about 200,000 people live here.

9. Rey, Iran


Located in the Greater Tehran agglomeration, Rey has evidence of occupation dating back 8,000 years, although it was most likely continuously inhabited for about 5,000 or 6,000 years. The city has preserved valuable historical monuments, such as the Herbi Tower, which is about 3000 years old. For the Zoroastrians, it was a deeply sacred city.

10. Jerusalem, Israel


Jerusalem is one of several cities that emerged between 4,000-5,000 years ago in the prosperous Levant region, and it holds a unique place in history as a link between several of the world's greatest religions. Unfortunately, the old city has been added to the World Heritage List, which is in danger due to modern urban development, tourism and cultural upheavals.

11. Luoyang, China


Several ancient cities were built around 4,000 years ago in the Middle East and Europe, but Luoyang stands out from this time period as the oldest continuously inhabited city in Asia. Situated in the central plain of China, Luoyang is considered the oldest city in the country and one of the Seven Great Ancient Capitals of China. It has been inhabited since the Neolithic period, with a continuous population of at least 4000 years. It is located at the intersection of the Luohe and Yi rivers and is considered the geographical center of ancient China.

12. Varnasi, India


According to Hindu legend, Varnasi is over 5,000 years old and considered one of the oldest cities in the world, although evidence of habitation dates back 3,000 years. This data suggests that Varnasi is one of the many ancient cities that appeared around the first millennium BC, and it is the oldest city in India and the holiest city for the Hindus. Its location on the banks of the sacred river Ganges also contributes to its importance and is an important place of pilgrimage.

There are many cities in the world, but only a few of them can boast a thousand-year history, where people have lived in one place since time immemorial. The earliest civilizations appeared on the territory of modern Iraq, northeastern Syria, southeastern Turkey, southwestern Iran, Greece and India, where the first large settlements were formed. It is difficult for archaeologists to determine which of the cities can bear the title of the oldest in the world, where people continuously lived for centuries. Moreover, there is no exact definition of what exactly is considered a city, and even more so how to determine how long people lived here “continuously”. But still meet the ten oldest cities in the world that have stood the test of time and have not been wiped off the face of the earth.

10. Beirut, Lebanon

First settlement 3000 BC

The history of Bierut goes back over 5,000 years. The city was founded by the Phoenicians, who became the cultural and political center of the region, where the Hellenes, Romans, Arabs and Ottomans managed to rule for several thousand years. Now Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, where 1.9 million people live.

9. Delhi, India

Delhi was founded by the legendary ruler Pand, the first of the Mahabharata line, around 3650 BC. e., but until it is scientifically proven, it is increasingly based on myths and legends. Although it seems that the archaeologists managed to dig up the pottery and find the remains of the settlement, which confirm the date of the foundation of the city. The city, which occupies a strategic position, was destroyed and plundered several times many times, but each, but each was restored. Today, Delhi is the capital of India, one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world, where 13 million people live.

8. Gaziantep, Turkey

First settlement 3650 BC

The city is located in the southern part of Turkey on the border with Syria. The city was founded by the Hittites, which passed from hand to hand to the Assyrians, Persians, Romans, Byzantines, and Seljuks. In 18183, the city was captured by Turkish tribes, which marked the beginning of the flourishing of the city, which became a major trading center lying on the Silk Road. Today Gaziantep is home to 1.3 million people and is the sixth largest city in Turkey.

7. Athens, Greece

Athens is the very embodiment of history, which became the cradle of Western civilization, where many philosophers of antiquity were born and created, only the names of Socrates, Plato and Aristotle are worth something. The first human settlements found by archaeologists date back to 4000 BC. Today it is the capital of Greece, where about 650 thousand people live, the main attraction of which is the Acropolis.

6. Sidon, Lebanon

First settlement 4000 BC

Sidon is located 40 kilometers from the Lebanese capital Beirut and 40 kilometers from Tire. The city was founded by the Phoenicians, becoming the capital of one of the most powerful states of its time. Sindong was one of the largest trading centers in the Mediterranean, and its seaport is one of the oldest man-made structures, partially preserved to this day. The city repeatedly passed from hand to hand, having been part of many empires and states, being considered one of the most impregnable cities. Now 200 thousand people live here,

5. Plovdiv, Bulgaria

First settlement 4000 BC

Plovdiv, formerly known as Philippopolis, is one of the oldest cities in Europe. Here, archaeologists have found settlements with Neolithic pottery dating back to about 40,000 BC. The city has a thousand-year history of becoming one of the gates to the Balkans, having been ruled by the Thracians, Romans, Byzantines and Ottomans. Now Plovdiv is the second largest city in Bulgaria, with slightly less than 350,000 inhabitants.

4. Aleppo, Syria

First settlement 4300 BC

Aleppo, one of the oldest cities in the world, was founded in about 4300 BC and was located in a very good place at the crossroads of many trade routes; life has not stopped here for several thousand years. The city was founded by the Hittites, who controlled it until 800 BC, after which it was ruled by the Assyrians, Greeks, Persians, Romans, was conquered by the Crusaders, Mongols and Ottomans. Aleppo is now the capital and largest city of Syria, with more than 2.4 million people and is experiencing a renaissance, developing at a frantic pace.

3. Byblos or Byblos, Lebanon

First settlement 5000 BC

One of the largest trading ports of antiquity, through which timber, wine, olive oil were exported, and was especially famous for papyrus. By the way, on behalf of this city, the word "biblio" was borrowed into many European languages. Over the centuries, Byblos has been part of many empires, kingdoms and states, there have been great ups and downs, now the city is called Bint Jubail, where about 30,000 people live and is a Hezbollah stronghold from where they mow down their attacks on Israel.

2. Damascus, Syria

First settlement 6300 BC

The beginning of the city was laid by the Aramaeans, who created a network of canals that continue to be used today. The first settlement appeared here in approximately 6300 BC, and a large city was formed here only by 2000 BC. The city was part of many great kingdoms and empires of its time, it was repeatedly destroyed to the ground, and the inhabitants were brutally massacred. Damascus is now the capital and second largest city of Syria, with a population of 1.75 million people.

1. Jericho, Palestine

First settlement 9000 BC

Jericho is the oldest city in the world, having seen the rise and fall of great civilizations and empires, where people have lived all this time. In ancient times, it was a flourishing city center of trade and agriculture, it was even called the "City of Palms", which is mentioned more than once in the Bible. Now only 20,000 people live here.

The list of the oldest cities in the world includes settlements in which people have constantly lived from ancient times to the present day. It is quite difficult to determine which of them appeared earlier, since it is customary in scientific circles to distinguish between the concepts of “urban-type settlement” and “city”.

For example, Byblos was already inhabited in the 17th century. BC e., but received the status of a city only in the III century. BC e. For this reason, there is no single point of view on the question of whether it can be considered the oldest in the world. In the same ambiguous position are Jericho and Damascus.

In addition to the top three, there are other ancient cities in the world. They are located in all corners of the world.

The most ancient cities of East Asia

The most ancient cities of East Asia, Beijing and Xi'an, are located in China. This country rightfully belongs to the most ancient civilizations in the world. There are practically no dark spots in its history, since it is recorded in written sources, so it is relatively easy to establish the dates of the founding of settlements.

Beijing

Beijing is the capital and largest political, educational and cultural center of the People's Republic of China. Its original name is literally translated into Russian as "Northern Capital". This phrase corresponds to the status of the city and its location today.

The first cities in the area of ​​modern Beijing appeared in the 1st century BC. BC e. First, the capital of the kingdom of Yan - Ji (473-221 BC) was located there, then the Liao empire established its southern capital - Nanjing (938) on this site. In 1125, the city passed into the administration of the Jurchen Empire Jin and was named Zhongdu.

In the XIII century, after the Mongols burned the settlement, and it was rebuilt, the city received two names at once: "Dadu" and "Khanbalik". The first is in Chinese, the second is in Mongolian. It is the second option that is reflected in the notes of Marco Polo, which remained after his trip to China.

Beijing received its modern name only in 1421. Historians believe that in the period from the 4th to the beginning of the 19th century. it was one of the largest cities in the world. During this time, it was repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt, deprived of the status of the capital, and then returned to it. Empires also changed, under whose possession the old settlement fell, but people continued to live there.

At present, the population of Beijing is almost 22 million people. 95% of them are native Chinese, the remaining 5% are Mongols, Chuer, Hui. This number includes only people who have a residence permit in the city, but there are also those who came to work. The official language here is Chinese.

The city is considered a cultural and educational center. There are many architectural monuments, museums, parks and gardens. There are more than 50 higher educational institutions, within the walls of which Russian citizens also receive education. Nightlife lovers will also not be bored - in the capital of China there are several areas with popular night bars.

Top attractions in Beijing:


Interesting facts about the capital of China:

  • The government spent $44 billion to prepare for the 2008 Olympic Games. To date, this is the world's largest expenditure on a sporting event.
  • There are 980 buildings on the territory of the Forbidden City, according to researchers, all of them are divided into 9999 rooms.
  • The Beijing subway is considered the 2nd longest in the world.

The northern capital of China does not claim to be the most ancient city in the world, but the history of its formation is still of interest to scientists.

Xi'an

Xi'an is a city in the People's Republic of China located in Shaanxi Province. He is over 3 thousand years old. For some time it was considered one of the largest in the world in terms of area and number of inhabitants.

In the II century. BC e. The Great Silk Road ran through the city. At that time, it was called "Chang'an", which translates as "long peace."

Like Beijing, the city was destroyed several times during wartime, and then rebuilt again. The name has also changed several times. The modern version took hold in 1370.

According to 2006 data, more than 7 million people live in Xi'an. By government decree in 1990, the city was transformed into a cultural, educational and industrial center. Here is the largest aircraft manufacturing center.

Attractions in Xi'an:


Interesting facts about the capital of Shaanxi Province:

  • Xi'an remained the capital of China during 13 consecutive imperial dynasties. This is the longest time.
  • Here is the city wall, which is more than 3 thousand years old. For such a period, it is quite well preserved.
  • During the reign of the Tang Dynasty (7th-9th centuries), the city was the most populated in the world.

Xi'an has long ceased to be the actual capital of the PRC, but thanks to its rich history spanning several centuries, it continues to be the main cultural center.

The oldest cities in the Middle East

There are three ancient cities in the Middle East at once: Balkh, Luxor and El Fayoum. The researchers came to the conclusion that all of them were founded no earlier than the 1st century BC. BC e. They are of interest both from a historical and cultural point of view.

Balkh

Balkh is a city located in the province of the same name in Pakistan. It is believed that it was founded in 1500 BC. e. during the resettlement of Indo-Iranians from the Amu Darya region.

During the heyday of the Silk Road, its population reached 1 million, now this figure has significantly decreased. According to 2006 data, only 77 thousand people live in the city.

Until the beginning of the Hellenistic era, the city was considered the largest spiritual center. According to legend, it was there that Zarathustra, the founder of Zoroastrianism, one of the oldest religious teachings in the world, was born.

In 1933, Balkh became one of the 3 Afghan cities where Jews were allowed to live. It was forbidden to leave the settlement without urgent need. A kind of Jewish ghetto was formed here because the representatives of this people preferred to settle separately from the rest. As of 2000, the Jewish community in the city has disintegrated.

Attractions:

  • Tomb of Khoja Parsa;
  • Madrassah of Said Subkhankulikhan;
  • Grave of Robiai Balkhi;
  • Masjidi Nuh Gumbad.

Interesting facts about the city:

  • In 1220, Balkh was destroyed by Genghis Khan and lay in ruins for almost a century and a half.
  • The first Jewish community in the city was founded in 568 BC. e., there, as the legend says, the Jews expelled from Jerusalem settled.
  • The main local attraction, the Green Mosque or the Tomb of Khoja Parsa, was built in the 15th century.

Currently, this settlement is considered a major center of the textile industry.

Luxor

Luxor is a city located in Upper Egypt. Part of it lies on the east bank of the Nile. It was known as "Uaset" in the ancient world. It occupies a place where, according to historical data, the capital of Ancient Egypt, Thebes, was located. Five centuries have passed since its foundation. It is considered the largest open-air museum, therefore it is currently a tourist center.

Luxor is conditionally divided into two districts - the "City of the Living" and the "City of the Dead". Most of the people live in the first region, in the second, due to the huge number of historical monuments, there are practically no settlements.

According to 2012 data, the population of Luxor is 506 thousand people. Almost all of them are Arabs by nationality.

Attractions:


Interesting Facts:

  • in 1997, members of the Islamist group Al-Gamaa-Al-Islamiya staged the so-called Luxor massacre in the city, during which 62 tourists died;
  • in summer the temperature reaches + 50 °C in the shade;
  • at one time the city was called "the hundred gates of Thebes".

Now Luxor receives the main income from tourists.

El Fayoum

El Faiyum is a city in Middle Egypt. Located in the oasis of the same name. Around it lies the Libyan desert. Scientists have come to the conclusion that the city was founded more in the 4th century. BC e. Its modern name comes from the Coptic language and means "lake" in translation.

The city was the administrative center in ancient Egypt. At that time, he bore the name Shedet, which literally translates as "sea." The settlement got its name due to the fact that on its territory there was an artificial lake Merida, in the waters of which crocodiles were bred to honor the Egyptian god Sebek.

In historical documents, the city is also found under the name Crocodilopolis.

At present, the population of El Faiyum is about 13 thousand people. The city is an agricultural center. Olives, grapes, sugarcane, dates, rice, corn are grown on its fields. Also here are engaged in the production of rose oil.

The city's attractions:


Interesting El Fayoum Facts:

  • the national symbol of the province in which the city is located - 4 water wheels;
  • the Catholic Church currently believes that it has no power over the city, although it was once a religious center;
  • Merida Lake was dug almost 4 centuries ago.

It was in El Faiyum that funeral portraits dated to the 1st-3rd centuries were first found. In honor of the city, they received the name "Fayum".

The most ancient cities in Europe

The oldest city in the world, if we consider its European part, is Athens. Its name is known to every person. But there are other ancient settlements in Europe, for example, Mantua and Plovdiv, which are far from being so famous.

Athens

Athens is one of the most famous and oldest cities in Greece, the capital of the state. It was founded around the 7th century. BC e. The first written monuments that were discovered there date back to 1600 BC. e., but it is known for certain that people lived in Athens long before that time.

The name of the settlement was in honor of its patroness - the goddess of war and wisdom Athena. In the 5th century BC e. it became a city-state. It was there that the model of a democratic society first appeared, which is still considered ideal.

In Athens, such famous philosophers and writers as Sophocles, Aristotle, Socrates, Euripides, Plato were born. The ideas highlighted in their works are relevant to this day.

As of 2011, the population in Athens reached 3 million people, which is about a third of the total population of Greece.

The city center, where the Athenian Acropolis was once located, is now a favorite tourist destination. Most of the ancient buildings were wiped off the face of the earth by time and wars, and modern multi-storey buildings were built in their place. One of the largest European higher educational institutions, the Athens Polytechnic University, is located here.

Attractions:


Interesting Facts:

  • the most popular sports in Athens are basketball and football;
  • in Greek the city is called "Athena", not "Athens";
  • the settlement is considered the birthplace of the theater.

Now in the capital of Greece there are many museums where you can get acquainted with the unique monuments of fine art dating back to the 2nd-3rd centuries. BC e.

Mantua

Mantua is an Italian city founded in the 6th century. BC e. It is surrounded on three sides by the waters of the Mincio River, which is rather unusual, as builders usually try to avoid swampy areas.

For a long time, Mantua was considered the city of art. It was here that the famous artist Rubens began his career - the author of the paintings "The Entombment", "Hercules and Omphala", "Exaltation of the Cross". In the XVII-XVIII centuries. From the haven of cultural figures, the city was re-qualified into an impregnable bastion.

The population of Mantua, according to 2004 data, amounted to 48 thousand people. Currently, the city is a tourist center, as it has preserved many architectural monuments from different centuries.

Attractions:


Interesting Facts:

  • in one of the suburbs of Mantua, Virgil was born - the creator of the Aeneid, one of the most famous ancient Roman poets;
  • in 1739 Charles de Brosse, a French historian, wrote that the city could only be approached from one side, as it was surrounded by swamps;
  • The historic center of Mantua is a World Heritage Site.

The patron saint of the city is Saint Anselm, who was not officially canonized. His memorial day falls on March 18. At the same time, residents celebrate City Day.

Plovdiv

The oldest city in the world, located on the territory of modern Europe, according to historian Dennis Rodwell, is Plovdiv. Now it is considered the second largest in Bulgaria. Once the city bore the names "Filippopolis" and "Filibe". The first settlements on its territory appeared in the VI century. BC e., during the Neolithic period.

At the beginning of World War II, the city took a central place in organizing support for the union of the USSR and Bulgaria. In 1941, the city was occupied by the Germans, as Bulgaria entered into an alliance with Germany. However, the resistance of the inhabitants was not completely suppressed. A reconnaissance group was operating in the city, in February 1943 it was defeated.

Currently, Plovdiv is the second most populated city in Bulgaria. 367 thousand people live in it. The city has a developed industry: agricultural, food and flavoring, clothing, non-ferrous metallurgy. It also houses the only factory in the country that produces cigarette filters and paper.

Attractions:


Interesting facts:

  • in Plovdiv there is a whole street with workshops that belong to hereditary artisans;
  • annually the International Plovdiv Fair is held here, which is popular throughout Europe;
  • Bulgarian astronomer, Violetta Ivanova, discovered an asteroid, which she named after the city.

Every year Plovdiv hosts an international boxing championship.

The oldest cities in the Middle East

In the Middle East, there are two settlements at once that claim to be the oldest city in the world - Byblos and Jericho.

bible

Byblos is an ancient Phoenician city, which is located on the territory of modern Lebanon, not far from the Mediterranean Sea. It is currently called "Jbeil".

Historical finds indicate that Byblos was already inhabited in the 7th century. BC e., during the Neolithic period. But the city was recognized only after 4 centuries. And the ancient era was considered the oldest settlement, but now its status is controversial.

The oldest city in the world, according to some scientists, Byblos is located on a well-protected hill, around which there is a lot of fertile soil, so this place was inhabited in the Neolithic era. But, for some unknown reason, by the arrival of the Phoenicians in the 4th century. BC e. there were no more inhabitants left, so the new arrivals did not have to fight for territory.

In the ancient world, the specialty of the city was the trade in papyrus. From its name came the words "byblos" (translated as "papyrus") and "bible" (translated as "book").

Currently, only 3 thousand people live in Byblos. Most of them adhere to Catholic and Muslim religious views. The city is one of the main tourist centers of Lebanon.

Attractions:


Interesting Facts:

  • the biblical alphabet has not yet been deciphered, since there are too few inscriptions on it, and there are no analogues in the world;
  • the Egyptian language was official in the city for a long time;
  • Egyptian myths say that it was in Byblos that the goddess Isis found the body of Osiris in a wooden box.

The city is located 32 km. from the current capital of Lebanon - Beirut.

Jericho

The oldest city in the world, according to most scientists, is Jericho. The first traces of habitation that were found there date back to the 9th century. BC e. The oldest city fortifications that have been discovered were built at the end of the 7th century. BC e.

Jericho is located on the territory of modern Palestine, in the region of the western bank of the Jordan River. It is repeatedly mentioned in the Bible, not only under its original name, but also as the "city of palm trees."

In the middle of the XIX century. on a hill near the Jordan River, excavations began, the purpose of which was to search for the ancient remains of Jericho. The first attempts did not give any results. But at the beginning of the 20th century, the hill was completely excavated.

It turned out that layers of architectural structures belonging to 7 different time periods lay in its depths. After repeated destruction, the city gradually moved to the south, which is why this phenomenon arose. The population of modern Jericho is only 20 thousand inhabitants.

The city, which is considered the oldest in the world, has been closed to the public since 2000, after armed uprisings in Palestine. In exceptional cases, the heads of the Israeli army gives tourists the go-ahead to visit.

Attractions:

  • ruins of ancient Jericho;
  • Forty Day Mountain;
  • tree of Zacchaeus.

Interesting Facts:

  • in Hebrew, the name of the city sounds like "Yeriho", and in Arabic - "Eriha";
  • this is one of the oldest settlements in which people lived continuously;
  • Jericho is mentioned not only in the Bible, but also in the works of Flavius, Ptolemy, Strabo, Pliny - they are all ancient Roman writers and scientists.

Supporters of the separation of the concepts of "city" and "urban settlement" believe that only Damascus, the capital of modern Syria, can compete with Jericho in age.

What is the oldest city in Russia?

Until 2014, Derbent, located in the southern part of the Republic of Dagestan, was considered the most ancient city in Russia. The first mention of a settlement on its territory dates back to the 6th century. BC e. The city itself was founded in the 5th century. n. e.

In 2017, after the annexation of the Crimean peninsula, Kerch was considered the oldest city in Russia. On its territory, sites dating back to the 8th century were discovered. BC e. The first settlement appeared in the 7th century. BC e. And the city itself was founded around the III century. BC e.

For the first time, Kerch became part of the Russian Empire at the end of the 8th century. as a result of the Russian-Turkish war. At that time, there was an active mining of shells and limestone for construction needs. By the beginning of the XX century. iron ore deposits were discovered under the city, which played a big role in the economic development of the city.

Currently, the population of Kerch is 150 thousand people. Tourists often come to the city, as it is located at the junction of the Azov and Black Seas. Also, the city continues to be one of the largest shipbuilding and metal foundry centers.

Attractions:

  • Royal mound;
  • Tiritaka;
  • Yeni-Kale fortress;
  • Merimekey;
  • Nymphaeum.

Interesting Facts:


Although the title of the oldest city in the world is difficult to award to only one locality, scientists were able to identify several leaders: Jericho, Byblos and Damascus.

The leading position is currently occupied by Jericho, but other cities deserve no less interest.

Article formatting: Vladimir the Great

Video about the oldest city in the world

The oldest city in the world:

The oldest cities in the world still live today. These settlements have passed, as they say, the test of time.

History can be surprisingly unpredictable, but some of its monuments have been unshakable for several thousand years. Before you is a list of the most ancient cities in the world that did not fall into decay and were not lost over the years, but were constantly inhabited by people. Find out which cities of the East, Europe and Asia are not only considered the oldest, but are still inhabited! You may also be wondering which civilization is considered the oldest.

The most ancient cities of East Asia

Although the Chinese civilization is rightfully considered one of the most ancient, the age of its oldest surviving cities is significantly inferior to the age of the first fortified settlements in the Near and Middle East. But even these figures cause awe in a person who has come face to face with the legacy of time.

Beijing

The country: China
Year of foundation: 1045 BC


The ancient name of the current capital of China is Ji. The city, founded in 1045 BC, was listed as the capital of the feudal principality of Yan for almost two thousand years, until in 938 AD. the Liao dynasty did not make it the second capital of Northern China. Beijing (it was also called Beijing and, later, Beiping) was the most important state center in the Jin, Yuan, Ming and Qing eras, and retained this status after the formation of New China. By the way, it was in the vicinity of Beijing that the remains of Sinanthropus were found - the so-called "Beijing Man", whose age dates back to approximately 600 thousand years.

Sian

The country: China
Year of foundation: 1100 BC


For 3100 years, Xi'an (ancient names - Haodzin, Chang-An), the most ancient city of China from now inhabited, has been the capital of ten major dynasties. A major cultural and political center was also famous for the manufacture of bronze objects; some products have survived to this day and are now exhibited in local museums. In 907, the Tang Dynasty died out, after which the city slowly fell into decay. Subsequently, he played an important role in the development of state trade, but he never returned to his former greatness.

The oldest cities in the Middle East

The ancient Near East, namely the interfluve of the Tigris and Euphrates, is considered the cradle of human civilization. Mesopotamia is the largest ancient civilization, which, despite its greatness, could not resist the onslaught of centuries. But, for example, neighboring Egypt still pleases tourists with its ancient capital.

Balkh

The country: Afghanistan
Year of foundation: 1500 BC


This city, located on the territory of modern Afghanistan, is often called the cradle of three religions: Zoroastrianism, Judaism and Buddhism. Balkh is considered to be the birthplace of Zarathustra, the founder of Zoroastrianism, the most ancient religion in the world known to man.

Luxor

The country: Egypt
Year of foundation: 3200 BC


Approximately XXII-XX centuries BC. Luxor was the capital of Waset (the fourth nome of Ancient Egypt), then became the main city of the entire kingdom of Egypt and remained so until the 10th century BC. It is also known to historians under the Greek name of Thebes.

El Fayoum

The country: Egypt
Year of foundation: 3200 BC


Another ancient Egyptian city appeared on the world map in the 4th millennium BC. Faiyum is located southwest of Cairo, on the territory of the ancient Crocodilopolis. Such an unusual name is a settlement in honor of the cult of the sacred crocodile Petsuhos, which was worshiped by local residents. Now the city is quite modern, here you can visit large bazaars, mosques, baths, as well as the pyramids of Khawara and Lekhin.

The most ancient cities in Europe

Athens

The country: Greece
Year of foundation: 1400 BC


The exact date of the founding of Athens is unknown. Written sources testify that the states of the Ancient World knew about the existence of a settlement on the site of modern Athens as early as 9600 BC. However, the city itself, which is rightfully called the cradle of Greek culture, arose only in the middle of the 2nd millennium BC.

Agros

The country: Greece
Year of foundation: 2000 BC


The date of foundation of the city of Agros (Peloponness) is conventionally considered to be 2000 BC. - the first evidence of its existence found by archaeologists belongs to this period. Perhaps its history goes much deeper. According to the ancient Greek epic, Agros was adjacent to Mycenae and Tiryns, now in ruins.

Mantua

The country: Italy
Year of foundation: 2000 BC


Mantova is a small city in the Lombardy region, founded by the Etruscans and Gauls. For most of its history, Mantua was located on an island on the Mincio River. Subsequently, already in the Middle Ages, the inhabitants blocked the channel and turned the island into a peninsula. As a result, the city was surrounded by lakes on three sides. By the way, the ancient Roman poet Virgil was born in the vicinity of Mantua.

Plovdiv

The country: Bulgaria
Year of foundation: 6000 BC


The oldest city in Europe is located in a picturesque place in southern Bulgaria, on the coast of the Maritsa River. Like Rome, it was built on seven hills - three of them can be clearly distinguished today. Initially, Plovdiv was a small village called Tratsian, which later turned into a major center of the Roman Empire. Before becoming part of Bulgaria, Plovdiv was also under the rule of Byzantium and the Ottoman Empire. Modern Plovdiv is a flourishing city with a rich cultural and social life.

The oldest cities in the Middle East

bible

The country: Lebanon
Year of foundation: 5000 BC


Once on the site of modern Jbeil stood the ancient city of Byblos - the heart of all Mediterranean navigation, the largest exporter of papyrus to Hellas. In the sixth millennium BC, these places were chosen by nomadic tribes who hunted for fishing. After a couple of thousand years, the settlement, nicknamed by the inhabitants of Gubla, was overgrown with stone walls, and its inhabitants continued the traditions of their ancestors and turned the city into a prosperous harbor. In the III millennium BC. Gubla passed into the possession of the Phoenicians - the sea people were attracted by its convenient position and developed water infrastructure. In the second millennium BC, the city developed its own written language, which significantly increased its prosperity, which was entirely dependent on trade. And a little later, he became the main exporter of papyrus to Greece. Papyrus in ancient Greek was known exactly as “byblos”, and the city, accordingly, began to be called the same.

Jericho

The country: Palestine
Year of foundation: 6800 BC


The most ancient city in the world is Jericho (meaning a settlement with fortified walls). Although the first human settlements arose here, on the west bank of the Jordan, as early as the 8th millennium BC. The powerful walls of the Jericho Tower still remind of those times. According to biblical legend, the walls of this city in ancient times fell from the sound of the trumpet of Joshua. During excavations, which came to grips with in the middle of the 20th century, archaeologists discovered as many as forty so-called "cultural layers" under these lands!


You can also find out about the most ancient city in Russia, its history and location on our website.
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Despite all the information that a person possesses, there are no fewer secrets in the world. On the contrary, with each new solution, more mysteries appear. What, besides the obvious, does the earth store in itself? What can be found underwater?

10. The Sunken City of Gelika

Everyone knows the legend of the lost world of Atlantis. But unlike the popular myth, there is written evidence about the city of Gelika, which helped archaeologists find its location.

The city was located in Achaia, in the north of the Peloponnese. Judging by the mention of Helika in the Iliad, the city participated in the Trojan War. In 373 BC. e. it was destroyed by a powerful earthquake and flood.

Despite the fact that the search for the actual location began at the beginning of the 19th century, the place was found only at the end of the 20th century. In 2001, the ruins of the city in Achaia were discovered, and only in 2012, when a layer of silt and river deposits was removed, it became obvious that this was Gelika.

9. Iram multi-column

This city was built 350 years before the construction of Angkor Wat in northwestern Cambodia. It was part of the Hindu-Buddhist Khmer Empire that ruled Southeast Asia from 800 to 1400 CE. e. Research in this area is still ongoing, which means that scientists are waiting for new discoveries.

4. The city of the pyramids Caral

Many are convinced that Egypt, Mesopotamia, China and India are the first civilizations of mankind. However, few people know that at the same time there was a civilization of Norte Chico in Supa, Peru. It is the first known civilization of the Americas. And the sacred city of Caral was its capital.

In 1970, archaeologists found out that the hills, which were originally identified as natural formations, are step pyramids. After 20 years, Karal manifested itself in full.

In 2000, an analysis was made of cane bags that were found during excavations, and the results were stunning. The analysis showed that The caral dates back to the late archaic period - around 3000 BC. e.