According to scientists, modern man descended from a small population of Homo sapiens that survived a terrible natural disaster that occurred 74,000 years ago and settled across the African continent. After 10-14 millennia, its members penetrated into Asia, and even later into Europe and America.
With the advent of agriculture, people stopped wandering and began to found villages. Over time, they grew, and around the 7th millennium, the most ancient cities in the world began to appear.
Some terminology
Before talking about the oldest cities in the world, you should find out what is meant by such a definition. In particular, as a result of archaeological excavations on different continents, many large settlements. However, today it is customary to call the ancient cities of the world only those of them that have never been abandoned by the inhabitants since their foundation. At the same time, some scholars continue to argue over whether the "age" should not be counted from the moment when a given settlement ceased to be a village, i.e. the number of people involved in agriculture, was less than the number of peasants. Based on these considerations, many ancient cities will "become younger" by several millennia.
Jericho
Be that as it may, today it is customary to answer the question of which is the most ancient city in the world by naming Jericho. The first human traces found on its territory date back to the 10th millennium BC. e., and the oldest buildings excavated by archaeologists - by the year 95,000. The history of Jericho can be traced in some detail in Old Testament, and later it is repeatedly mentioned in Roman chronicles. In particular, it is known that it was presented by Mark Antony as a gift to Cleopatra. However, later Emperor Augustus gave it to King Herod, who built many magnificent buildings there. In addition, there are records that a Christian church was built in Jericho in the first centuries of our era.
Having existed until the 9th century, the city fell into decay due to the Muslim wars with the Crusaders and Bedouin raids, and from the 13th century it turned into a small Muslim village, destroyed in the 19th century by the Turks. Only in the early 1920s, the irrigation system was restored on the territory of Jericho. After that, these places began to be populated by Arabs.
Today, Jericho is a small city of just over 20,000 people located in the unrecognized State of Palestine. Its main attraction is the Tel es-Sultan hill with a tower that is believed to be 9,000 years old.
Damascus
As already mentioned, when listing the most ancient cities in the world, it is customary to start the list with Jericho. But the second position in this ranking belongs to Damascus. The city was founded in 2500 BC. e. However, scientists believe that its territory has been continuously inhabited by people since the 10th millennium BC. e. From the 15th century BC e. in different periods, the city was under the rule of the Egyptian pharaohs, Assyria, Israel, Persia and other powerful states of that time. No less interesting is the history of Damascus at a later time. In particular, it is known that after the visit of St. Apostle Paul, just a few years after the crucifixion of the Savior, there was already a Christian community in the city, and in the Middle Ages it was stormed three times, but the crusader knights could not capture it. Like the most ancient city in the world, Jericho, Damascus lay in ruins for some time. The fault was the troops of Tamerlane, who invaded Syria in 1400 and staged a terrible massacre, the consequences of which for many years did not allow Damascus to regain its former power.
The oldest city in the world according to ancient historians
Scientists learned about the true age of Jericho only in the second half of the last century, and before that, in different eras, completely different cities claimed this title. For example, in the ancient world it was believed that Byblos was founded earlier than others, which in the Old Testament appears under the name Gebal. It has been mentioned as a city since the 4th millennium BC. e. Many legends are associated with it. For example, the ancient Egyptians believed that it was there that Isis found the body of the god Osiris. In addition, Jabel (Arabic for Byblos) is known as the origin of various ancient cults, such as those worshiping Baal and Adonis. Since it was produced in it most of papyrus, produced in the ancient world, the first books from such “paper” began to be called byblos.
Athens
Interestingly, the capital of Greece does not claim to be the most ancient city in the world, since it was founded only around 1400 BC. e. It is known that even in the Mycenaean era there was a palace and a fortified settlement. For thousands of years, Athens was the main educational and cultural center of the ancient world and did not lose this role even during the time of Rome. Today there you can see many architectural monuments, which are several thousand years old. Moreover, in terms of their number, Athens is far superior to other ancient cities on the planet.
Rome
Oddly enough, Rome, which for thousands of years has been called eternal, is not included in the list of the 10 most ancient cities in the world, since it was founded in 753 BC. e. However, it is obvious that settlements in its place existed many millennia before that. It's just that if historians draw information about the origin of other cities from archaeological excavations, the "birthday" of Rome was "calculated" in the first century on the basis of the legend about the sons of Mars and Princess Rhea Sylvia - Remus and Romulus.
The most ancient cities in the world: Yerevan
Few people know that the capital of Armenia, or rather, the city of Erebuni that existed in its place, older than Rome for 29 years. Moreover, this fortress has a quite weighty "birth certificate", both literally and figuratively, signed by its founder - Argishty, the son of Menua. It's about about a stone with cuneiform writing, which in 1894 the famous Russian anthropologist A. Ivanovsky acquired from one of the Armenian peasants. The inscription on the boulder was deciphered, and it turned out that it reports on the construction of a large granary by King Argishta the First. More than half a century later, on the outskirts of Yerevan, on the Arin-berd hill, excavations were carried out and two more slabs were found, one of which already touched the foundation of the fortress. In addition, another "Erebuni metric" was found, already embedded in the wall of the fortress, some of the buildings of which have been excellently preserved to this day. In particular, today in the fortress of Erebuni, recognized by Forbes as the 9th oldest in the world, you can see the ruins of the Susi temple, with cuneiform tablets of King Argishti, the wall of the sanctuary of the god Khaldi with beautiful wall paintings, ancient stone plumbing and much more.
Derbent
Talking about the most ancient cities in the world, one cannot fail to mention the Russian Derbent. Judging by archaeological finds, a settlement in its place existed as early as the 4th millennium BC. e. and has been raided many times. As for the name Derbent, for the first time it is found by Herodotus in a document of the 5th century. It is also known that in the first century AD, in order to capture this city, which was considered the gateway to the Caspian Sea, campaigns were organized by the Romans and Persians, who fought for dominance in the Caucasus and adjacent regions.
Now you know which is the oldest city in the world, some interesting information about Damascus, Derbent, Yerevan, Byblos and other cities.
Ancient cities amaze with their grandeur: our history was born and unfolded in them. And although most of the ancient cities have not survived to our time, there are a few that we can see today. Some of these cities are small, while others are huge. This list contains cities that have not only survived to this day, but continue to function. Each city is photographed at sunrise and sunset. In addition, in some photographs you can find the sights of these places.
10. Plovdiv
Founded: before 400 BC
Plovdiv is located in present-day Bulgaria. It was founded by the Thracians and was originally called Eumolpias. It was conquered by the Macedonians and eventually became part of present-day Bulgaria. It is the second largest and most important city in Bulgaria after the capital Sofia, which is about 150 kilometers away.
9. Jerusalem
Founded: 2000 BC 
Jerusalem is one of the oldest cities in the world and is considered the holy city of Christianity, Islam and Judaism. It is the capital of Israel (although not all countries recognize this fact). In ancient times it was the famous city of David from the Bible, and then the place where Jesus spent his last week of life.
8. Xi'an
Founded: 1100 BC 
One of the four great ancient capitals of China, Xi'an is now the capital of Shaanxi Province. The city is full of ancient ruins, monuments, and it still has an ancient wall built during the Ming Dynasty - pictured below. It also houses the tombs of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, who is best known for his terracotta army.
7. Cholula
Founded: 500 BC 
Cholula is located in the Mexican state of Puebla, which was founded before the arrival of Columbus to the shores of America. Its most famous attraction is Great Pyramid Cholula, which now looks like a hill with a church on top. However, in reality, the hill is the base of the pyramid. The pyramid temple is the largest in the new world.
6. Varanasi
Founded: 1200 BC 
Varanasi (also known as Benares) is located in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. Jains and Hindus consider it a holy city and believe that if a person dies there, he will be saved. It is the oldest inhabited city in India and one of the oldest in the world. Along the Ganges River, you can find many holes - these are stops on the way of believers, in which they perform religious ablutions.
5. Lisbon
Founded: 1200 BC 
Lisbon is the largest city and capital of Portugal. It is the oldest city in Western Europe - much older than London, Rome, and similar cities. Religious and funerary monuments have been preserved there since the Neolithic era, and archaeological evidence also indicates that it was once an important trading city for the Phoenicians. In 1755, the city suffered a devastating earthquake, which almost completely destroyed it due to fires and tsunamis - this earthquake was one of the deadliest in history.
4. Athens
Founded: 1400 BC 
Athens is the capital of Greece and also the largest city. Its 3,400 year history is eventful, and due to Athenian dominance of the region as a vast city-state, much of the culture and customs of the ancient Athenians found their way into many other cultures. The many archaeological sites make Athens an ideal city to visit for those with an interest in European history and culture.
3. Damascus
Founded: 1700 BC 
Damascus is the capital of Syria and more than 2.6 million people live here. Unfortunately, however, recent civil uprisings have caused considerable damage to one of the most significant and ancient cities in history. Damascus has been listed in the top 12 properties cultural heritage that are in danger of being destroyed or in danger of being irreparably damaged. Only time will tell if this ancient city can survive, or whether it will go down in history as one of the ancient lost cities in the world.
2. Rome
Founded: 753 BC 
Initially, Rome was a collection of small urban-type settlements. However, it eventually became a city-state governing one of the greatest empires throughout the history of mankind. The period of existence of the Roman Empire (which grew from the Roman Republic) was relatively short - it was founded in 27 BC. its first emperor, Augustus, and the last, Romulus Augustulus, was deposed in 476 (although the Eastern Roman Empire lasted another 977 years).
1. Istanbul
Founded: 660 BC 
As noted above, the Eastern Roman Empire, with its capital in the city of Constantinople - now known as Istanbul, continued to exist until 1453. Constantinople was captured by the Turks, who founded the Ottoman Empire in its place. The Ottoman Empire lasted until 1923, when the Republic of Turkey was established and the Sultanate was abolished. To this day, in Istanbul, you can see both Roman artifacts and artifacts Ottoman Empire, the most significant of which is probably the Hagia Sophia. Initially, it was a church, then it was converted into a mosque by the Islamic Ottomans, and with the formation of the republic it became a museum.
Before naming the most ancient cities of Russia, it is necessary to clarify what is meant, a primordially Russian city that originally arose on the lands of Russia, or a settlement located on the territory modern Russia. In the second case, the answer will be unequivocal - this is Derbent. It has been known about him since the 6th century BC, when there was no Russia at all.
Inhabited since time immemorial territory
Of course, the ancient settlements were, as excavations show, everywhere and on the territory of Moscow too. And in the Crimea, on the White Rock, a skeleton of a mother with a child, who is 150,000 years old, was found.
Later, during the Copper Age (Eneolithic), the settlements were already protected in every possible way, a prototype of fortresses appeared - the settlement was erected on a high place, a fence was built near the river. Archaeologists still have a lot of work to do - already now on the territory of our country there are hundreds of excavated settlements belonging to various temporary cultures. Herodotus mentions the wooden city of Gelon, which, according to some scientists, could be located on the territory of present-day Saratov. Much is known about the existence, especially in the Crimea, of ancient cities such as Tiras and Olbia, Tanais and Phanagoria. These cities and many others have formed medieval Russia. Based on the foregoing, we can conclude that Rurik did not come from scratch.
One of many
There are many lists of ancient Russian cities, and they all differ. In some, some settlements are indicated, in some others, the dates of formation do not always coincide. Scientists argue, and new data appear. Below is one of the lists.
Founding dates |
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Velikiy Novgorod | ||
Rostov the Great |
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Belozersk |
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Great Izborsk |
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Smolensk | ||
Vladimir | ||
Yaroslavl |
Several Yet
Novgorod is the oldest
Most often, the list is headed by Veliky Novgorod, first mentioned in Novgorod Chronicle from 859. The mention is connected with Rurik, who came to Russia from Ladoga (based on this information, in some lists this settlement is indicated under the first number). By the middle of the 9th century, the advantageous location makes Novgorod the center of the northwestern lands and the first capital of Ancient Russia. The city is a major cultural, political and commercial center, leading the exchange of goods with many foreign countries.
But in 882, Prince Oleg conquers Kiev and makes it his capital and leaves Novgorod. The city continued to develop quite successfully, becoming the first "window to Europe" for Russia. It can be noted that the first bishop arrived in Veliky Novgorod in 989.
Construction boom year
The second number in some list of "The most ancient cities of Russia" is Belozersk, founded in 862. I wonder whose efforts so many cities were founded this year? Beloozero (the second name of the city) was transferred several times - either it would flood it, or a pestilence would destroy half of the population. Trade routes along the Sheksna and Mologa rivers to the Volga and beyond passed through it. Both Novgorod and Belozersk are cities with a rich history, they still exist, but in this article they are interesting precisely as the ancient cities of Russia.
The list continues with the well-known, thanks to the great inmate Ilya, Moore. The history of this outpost originates from the settlement of the Oka by the Finnish Muroma tribe. The city was the capital of the Muromo-Ryazan principality. Due to the fact that he was in the border zone, the city was constantly subjected to raids. In 862, at the mouth of the Polota River, at its confluence with the Western Dvina, Polotsk (Polotesk) was founded. Part Old Russian state Polotsk enters in 907, there is documentary evidence of this. At the same time, the city of Rostov, which later became part of the Rostov-Suzdal Principality, was being built on the shores of Lake Nero.
Next on the list
Smolensk was founded a year later in 863. It is mentioned in the Tale of Bygone Years. The favorable position on the Dnieper contributed to the rapid formation of the capital of the Krivichi. Part Kievan Rus Smolensk is included as a strong principality. Pskov and Uglich, Bryansk and Suzdal, Yaroslavl, Kursk and Ryazan, Vladimir, Kostroma and Tver are also ancient cities of Russia. The list is supplemented by Moscow. But these are younger formations. So, Tver was founded in 1208. The city was originally part of Novgorod principality, and then was attached to the Vladimir-Suzdal lands. All these cities are the historical heritage of our country.
The history of the famous route
About 40 years ago in the newspaper " Soviet Russia"A number of articles were published about ancient Russian cities, concentrated on the territory of several nearby regions. The golden-domed churches of these cities, located along a closed ring, gave the name to the new tourist route. " Golden ring Russia ”was born from newspaper essays, the term was coined by the writer Yuri Bychkov. Initially, this route included only eight of the most ancient Russian cities - Moscow and Sergiev Posad, Pereyaslavl-Zalessky and Rostov the Great, Uglich and Yaroslavl, Kostroma and Ples, Suzdal and Vladimir, between them there is one more point - Bogolyubovo. These cities were selected according to a certain principle. For example, they represent all types of ancient Russian architecture, the development of which can be traced in stages.
unofficial center
The route gained popularity, it became a cult, but many ancient settlements were not covered. And now, the "Golden Ring of Russia" already includes 20 cities, special routes are being created in order to visit something else famous points.
There are cruises on the Volga under this name. The unofficial, but generally recognized capital of the entire "Golden Ring" is Vladimir - a city located 193 km from Moscow, where the route begins and ends. The Pearl of the Ring was founded in 1108. Vladimir Monomakh, who was actively engaged in urban planning, laid and surrounded the wooden fortress with an earthen rampart. His grandson Andrei Bogolyubsky, the city owes its flourishing. famous Vladimir icon was brought to the city by him, and he also built for her an amazing temple of the Assumption of the Mother of God. In 1157, Vladimir became the capital of the Old Russian state. The city continues to develop further. Since that time, many monuments have been preserved, and this center of ancient architecture impresses with its beauty preserved in its original form. The main attractions of the city are the Golden Gate, erected in 1164, the Assumption Cathedral, painted by Andrei Rublev in the XII century, Dmitrievsky Cathedral, famous for its white stone carvings. These are far from all the historical and architectural monuments that Vladimir is rich in.
Glorified by warriors
All cities of the Golden Ring amaze and fascinate with primordially Russian beauty. Some occupy special niches. So, the city of Murom, instead of which Ivanovo sometimes appears in the list of 8 cities, is the oldest city in Russia. He, mentioned in the Tale of Bygone Years, remained pagan for a very long time. After the murder of the great-grandson of Yaroslav the Wise Mikhail in Murom, his father, the namesake of his grandfather, Prince Yaroslav laid siege to the city, and, taking it, baptized the inhabitants by force in 1097. Murom was destroyed by Batu, later ruined by the Tatars three times, it was plundered in Troubled times, but always his warriors were in the forefront of the defenders of the Motherland. City of Murom
gave Russia the most famous hero Ilya Muromets.
Handsome Suzdal
Even a page is not enough to list the monasteries, churches and bell towers of Suzdal, the open-air museum. Ancient monastery walls, belfries and gate churches - dozens of the most beautiful objects represent Russian architecture from the 12th to the 19th century. The city of Suzdal has a special attraction. White-stone churches and ancient monuments, of which there are up to 200 units in the city-museum, are under the protection of UNESCO. For the first time this beautiful city is mentioned in chronicles from 1024. Now everything is being done to attract more tourists. Street vendors of souvenirs and mead, buffoons and horse teams created an atmosphere of an endless holiday in the city.
Veliky Novgorod, due to its remoteness, is not included in the Golden Ring of Russia.
The data is still controversial, but this moment this information is official.
At the moment, the population is 602,000 people.
Judging by the date of the first mention in the annals, Yaroslavl is the oldest existing city on the Volga. It was founded by Prince Yaroslav the Wise during his Rostov reign (988-1010) on a cape above the Strelka at or near the pagan settlement of Medvezhiy Ugol. On a site naturally protected from three sides (the steep high banks of the Volga and Kotorosl and the Medveditsky ravine, along which a stream flowed), the Yaroslavl Kremlin was built. The first mention of Yaroslavl - the “uprising of the Magi” caused by famine in the Rostov land - is dated 1071. The name of the city is traditionally associated with the name of its founder: "Yaroslavl" is a possessive form meaning "Yaroslavov".
In the XII century, the Yaroslavl Peter and Paul and Spassky monasteries already existed - then they were located outside the city. During the first two centuries of its existence, Yaroslavl remained a small border town of the Rostov-Suzdal land.
Kazan is the regional center, the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan. The date of foundation is 1005. (The data is still not accurate, there is a version that the city was founded much earlier)
At the moment, the population is 1,206,100 people.
There are several versions and legends about the origin of the name of Kazan. Most often they appeal to the version of a boiled cauldron: the sorcerer advised the Bulgars to build a city where a cauldron with water dug into the ground would boil without any fire. As a result, a similar place was found on the shore of Lake Kaban. From here came the name of the city of Kazan - cauldron in ancient Bulgarian, as well as in modern Bulgarian and Tatar, means "cauldron". Other versions associate the name of the city with the landscape, the Tatar words kaen ("birch") or kaz ("goose"), Prince Hasan and other variants. I. G. Dobrodomov’s version is presented: “The primary name was the reconstructed Alanian-Burtas name Khadzang, associated with the location of the city at a sharp bend in the Volga channel. On Chuvash soil, it turned into Khuzan, and in Russian use, into Kazan"
Suzdal is a small city, which is part of the Vladimir region. Date of foundation - 999, or 1024.
At the moment, the population is 10,061 people.
In the annals, Suzdal is first mentioned when it speaks of the uprising of the Magi in 1024. According to A. A. Zaliznyak, Suzdal is mentioned in the oldest known Russian book, called the Novgorod Codex. The so-called "hidden texts" say that in 999 a certain monk Isaac was made a priest in Suzdal in the church of St. Alexander the Armenian.
Vladimir - Regional center. The date of foundation (one of the versions) is 990.
At the moment, the population is 350,087 people.
IN ancient form(common in oral speech and to this day) - Volodymyr - the princely name Volodymyr is combined with the possessive suffix -јь-, that is, "the city of Vladimir". Toponyms in -јь- are the most ancient types characteristic of the names of Slavic cities. Over time, the name of the city, first in sound, and then in spelling, coincided with the personal name Vladimir.
In the past, the variants Vladimir-on-Klyazma and Vladimir-Zalessky were also used, which was associated with the existence of the city of the same name in Southwestern Russia - this is Vladimir-Volynsky in modern Ukraine, in the Volyn region. (The first mention of the southwestern city in the annals dates back to 988; Vladimir Svyatoslavich is considered the founder. Unlike Vladimir-on-Klyazma, the second component of the name Vladimir-Volynsky was officially fixed.)
Bryansk is a regional center. The city was founded in 985.
At the moment, the population is 408,472 people.
The city was first mentioned in the Ipatiev Chronicle as "Dbryansk" under 1146, later - in the Resurrection, Laurentian, Trinity Chronicles and other sources. The name of the city of Bryansk comes from the Old Russian word "Dbryansk", derived from the word dbr. The Old Russian word dbr / debr means "mountain slope, gorge, ditch, valley or lowland, overgrown with dense forest and shrubs." According to the law of falling weak er, the er between d and b fell out, and the complex combination of db was simplified to b.
Trubchevsk - Small town in terms of population. Bryansk region. The year of foundation is 975.
At the moment, the population is 14,073 people.
IN early sources the city is called Trubech, Trubezh, Trubetskoy, Trubchesky or Trubezhskoy. Initially, the settlement was located 10 km downstream of the Desna, near the modern village of Kvetun. The thickness of the cultural layer in the settlement was 60 - 80 cm. The lower layers belong to the Yukhnovskaya archaeological culture of the Early Iron Age. Dwellings and metallurgical furnaces have been explored in the Old Russian layers. Among the finds of the Old Russian period are brooches, glass bracelets and beads, coins (including the Byzantine Constantine VII). Judging by the finds of thin plinths and fragments of the golosnik, at the settlement in the 11th-12th centuries. there was a stone temple.
Uglich - First mentioned in the annals in 1148, however, some local sources provide other information: 937, 947, 952 and other years.
Uglich is a city in Russia, the administrative center of the Uglich district of the Yaroslavl region.
At the moment, the population is 32,766 people.
It got its name, in all likelihood, because the Volga makes a corner here. In addition, there are two opinions of probable versions: because coals were burned in this place, and because here, solely according to this hypothesis, the Uglich people were resettled from the Ugla River, a tributary of the Dnieper.
According to archaeological research, a settlement on the site of the Uglich Kremlin existed approximately from the beginning of our era with a short break in the region of the 5th-6th centuries.
Pskov is a small regional center. The year of foundation is 859.
At the moment, the population is 206,730 people.
The name of the city is connected with the hydronym - the river Pskova. There are various versions of the origin of the name of the city and the river. According to one of them - Slavic origin- the name Pskov (Pleskov, Plskov) comes from the old Russian word "ples" - part of the river between two bends, or from the word "sand". According to another version - of Baltic-Finnish origin - the name comes from the word piskava (in Liv), piskva, pihkva (in Estonian), meaning "resinous water" and reflects the polyethnicity of the early population of the city. Other interpretations of the hydronym are “splash”, “shine”, “fish river”, “sand”. Archaeologists have established that in Pskov X-XI centuries. the ancestors of the Slavs lived - Pskov Krivichi, representatives of the Baltic-Finnish, Baltic and Scandinavian tribes
Smolensk - Large city, regional center of the Smolensk region. The date of foundation is 863.
At the moment, the population is 330,961 people.
There are several versions of the origin of the city's name. So, for example, there are versions that it goes back to the name of the Smolnya River (Old Slavonic "smol" - black soil), or to the ethnonym Smolensk. The most common version of origin mentions "the path from the Varangians to the Greeks." The city was located at the end of the place where ships were dragged from the Western Dvina to the Dnieper. This portage passed through the original place of origin of Smolensk (now Gnezdovo), where local artisans tarred merchants' boats.
Belozersk (first name - Beloozero). The same age as Rostov the Great. Small town. Year of foundation - 862. Volgograd region.
At the moment, the population is 9,380 people.
Belozersk is one of the oldest cities in Russia. First mentioned in The Tale of Bygone Years under 862 as the city of Beloozero, which participated in the calling of the Varangians. Archaeological evidence of the existence of the city at that time has not yet been found, although there are suggestions that it could be located on the northern shore of the White Lake.
Rostov the Great is the same age as the city of Murom, a small city included in the Yaroslavl region. In 1995, the Rostov Kremlin Museum-Reserve was included in the collection of especially valuable objects of the cultural heritage of the peoples of Russia.
At the moment, the population is 30,923 people.
The name of the city is traditionally, although not very confidently, associated with the Slavic personal name Rost (cf. Rostislav), from which the possessive adjective is formed with the help of the suffix -ov.
Rostov is mentioned in The Tale of Bygone Years. In the entry for 862, it is referred to as an existing city, which was owned by Rurik and where the "first inhabitants" belonged to the Merya tribe
Murom is a medium-sized city. It is part of the Vladimir region. Year of foundation - 862.
At the moment, the population is 111,474 people.
Murom was first mentioned in the Tale of Bygone Years under 862 among the cities subject to Prince Rurik after the calling of the Varangians.
Gleb Vladimirovich is considered the first specific prince of Murom. In 1088 the city was captured by the Volga Bulgars.
Veliky Novgorod is a small regional center in terms of population. The date of foundation is 859.
At the moment, the population is 219,971 people.
Veliky Novgorod is one of the oldest and famous cities Russia (in 2009 officially celebrated the 1150th anniversary). The place of calling of the chronicle Rurik and the origin Russian statehood. In the Middle Ages - the center of Novgorod Russia, and then the center of the Novgorod land as part of the Old Russian and Russian states. At the same time, in 1136 it became the first free republic on the territory of feudal Russia(from that moment, when, after the battle at Zhdana Gora, Prince Vsevolod Mstislavich fled from the battlefield, the powers of the Novgorod prince were sharply limited). For the period of time from 1136 to 1478, when Novgorod lost (as a result of the victory of the Moscow prince Ivan III the Great over the Novgorodians in the Moscow-Novgorod war of 1477-1478) political independence, in relation to Novgorod land it is customary to use the term "Novgorod Republic" (the government of the latter used the designation Mr. Veliky Novgorod).
Derbent - A city of average size, which is part of the Republic of Dagestan, the Russian Federation .. Date of foundation - the end of the 4th millennium BC. e.
At the moment, the population is 120,470 people.
Derbent is considered one of the oldest "living" cities in the world. The first settlements arose here in the early Bronze Age - at the end of the 4th millennium BC. e .. The first mention of the Caspian Gates is the most ancient name Derbent - refers to the VI century. BC e., it is given by the famous ancient Greek geographer Hecateus of Miletus.
The modern city was founded in 438 AD. e. like a Persian fortress, consisting of a citadel located on a hill (Naryn-kala) and two going from it to the sea stone walls, which blocked a narrow (3 km) passage between the sea and the mountains of the Caucasus and fenced the territory of the city from the north and south. Thus, Derbent is the oldest city in Russia[
Despite the ongoing debate about the moment of the emergence of each ancient settlement, there is a more or less agreed upon list that includes the oldest cities in the world in which life continued uninterruptedly and are now inhabited.
One of the oldest
This list is headed by Jericho, which is mentioned more than once in the Bible under the name "city of palm trees", although the name is translated from Hebrew as "lunar city". Historians attribute the date of its emergence as a settlement to the 7th millennium BC, although some of the found traces of habitation date back to the 9th. That is, people lived here during the Chalcolithic or before the Ceramic Neolithic. It so happened that the location of Jericho has been on the warpath since time immemorial, again in the Bible there is a description of the capture of the city. He changed hands endlessly last time happened in 1993, when Jericho went to Palestine. Repeatedly over the millennia, the inhabitants left it, but always returned and rebuilt. Now located 10 km from Dead Sea Jericho is willingly visited by tourists, as it is rich in sights (for example, there was a farmstead of King Herod). In addition, this most ancient city on earth is also unique in that it is, so to speak, the deepest settlement, as it is located 240 meters below sea level.
Which one is older
The second (sometimes contesting the championship) on the list of "The oldest cities in the world" is modern Syria. Its origin also dates back to prehistoric times, but it becomes a major city after the Aramaic invasion, dating back to 1400 BC. One of the most charming cities in the Middle East, it is full of attractions. What is only included in the list of the greatest temples of the world, in which the head of the City is so ancient that there is a belief that the first wall built on earth after the Flood was precisely the Damascus Wall. The old city, which has not changed its appearance for many centuries, is also surrounded by a wall, but it was erected at the time of Ancient Rome.
Also the most ancient
Concludes the first three settlements of the list "Ancient cities of the world" Lebanese Bybl. Needless to say, in some lists he is given the second, and even the first in seniority. These three cities arose long before the Copper Age, but since then they have been continuously inhabited. Byblos is located in the suburbs of Beirut. The very name of the city suggests that it was once a biblical city and was called Gebal. A Phoenician settlement, in ancient times it was the center of the papyrus trade, and now it is a well-known tourist attraction. It is interesting in that a small number of inscriptions found on ancient artifacts have not yet been deciphered, because this type of proto-biblical writing has no spaces. There are about 100 signs, but there are few inscriptions. The date of the emergence of the next city of Susa is disputed, as well as big city modern Syria Aleppo - someone believes that in the 7th millennium BC these cities already existed, someone did not.
Closing the list of "ancient"
The birth of subsequent cities date back to the 4th millennium BC. Not all of the most frequently cited lists under the name "Ancient cities of the world" mention the Crimean Feodosia, although in Russia it was it that was considered the "eternal city", since it was founded, according to some sources, in the 6th century BC and was known as Ardabra .
Another ten of the most ancient includes such settlements as the Lebanese Sidon (4 thousand BC). The emergence of the Egyptian Faiyum (Greek Crocodilefield) and the Bulgarian Plovdiv dates back to the same time. Turkish Gaziantep and Lebanese capital Beirut are several centuries younger. Further on the list, the following cities are most often mentioned: Jerusalem, Tire, Erbil, Kirkuk, Jaffa. All of them arose many centuries before our chronology and belong to the "most ancient".
The oldest in Russia
The most common lists under the title "Ancient cities of the world" do not include Derbent, Zurich, or Ningbo, although they have at least 6,000 years of history behind them. So, Derbent (from Arabic Bab-al-Abwab - its name - is translated as "gate of the gate" or " big gate”), according to some sources, was already a settlement in the 4th millennium BC. This southern city Russian Federation already existed in Azerbaijan. Translated from the Azerbaijani language, its name sounds like “closed gates”. It is located in the isthmus between the Caucasus Range and the western shore of the Caspian Sea. This ancient settlement has always been a gateway for caravans traveling from Europe to Asia.
Also "oldest"
For most people, the concept of ancient Europe is associated primarily with Greece. However, Swiss Zurich is much older. The first settlements on its territory arose in 4430-4230 BC, that is, in the 5th millennium.
Closer to our chronology, it was conquered by the Celts, then the settlement became part of the Roman Empire, and at that time it was already mentioned under the name Turicum. The Chinese city of Ningbo, which is directly related to the Hemudu culture that existed in the 5th millennium BC, according to some statements, was already inhabited in the Neolithic era. Archeology does not stand still, and the list of the most ancient cities on the planet will include new names.
Closer to our reckoning
The list of "Ancient cities of the world" is much wider than the "Ancient", because many civilizations belong to the 2nd millennium BC. The location of the settlements that arose in these centuries goes beyond the Middle East. In Europe, these are primarily cities. In this territory, Athens tops the list of “permanently inhabited cities of the ancient world”. Notes about this city-state also begin with the words that these places were inhabited in the Neolithic era. But Athens is described in detail, starting from the late Helladic period, that is, from 1700-1200 BC. The golden age for this powerful policy began in the middle of the 1st millennium, during the reign of Pericles. Legendary monuments, known throughout the world, were built during this period, which is quite well studied and described by the ancient Greek classics. Such historical evidence as the works of Bacchelides, Hyperides, Menander and Herodes written on papyri have survived to this day. The works of later, world-famous Greek authors formed the basis of the popular "Myths and Legends" by N. Kuhn. ancient greek philosophy, science, culture are the foundation of modern knowledge.
Extensive list
The names of the ancient cities of the world are a very extensive list, taking up more than one page, because the period of Antiquity ends in our chronology, has a specific date - 476 AD, indicating the fall of the Western Roman Empire. This period is well studied, and the existence of many cities is documented.
Therefore, from the whole huge list, we can name several settlements known to literally everyone. It will also include cities that have disappeared from the face of the earth, but remained in historical evidence or in the memory of their descendants. These include such great cities ancient world, like Babylon and Palmyra, Pompeii and Thebes, Chichen Itza and Ur, Pergamon and Cuzco, ancient Greek Knossos and Mycenae, many cities of Asia and other continents. The mysteries of the ruins of these cities are yet to be solved. For example, the mysterious Angkor, lost in the jungle, is the stone heart of Cambodia, rediscovered for the world in the middle of the 19th century, although its history goes back to the second century AD. Or located on the top of a mountain, located at an altitude of 2450 meters above sea level, no less mysterious Machu Picchu. This ancient "city in the sky" is located in Peru.
The highlight of the city
Ancient city Demre, in comparison with the above settlements, is simply young. The first mention of it dates back to the 5th century (not the millennium) BC. But Known in ancient times under the name of Mira, it is famous not only for its extraordinary architectural monuments, but first of all for the fact that Saint Nicholas studied, lived and became famous here, he is also Nicholas the Pleasant, the Miracle Worker, he is also Saint Nicholas and Santa Claus. The most wonderful tradition of giving New Year's gifts came from this city. The initiator was St. Nicholas, the first Bishop of Mira. The ancient city of Demre is a very popular tourist attraction.
The route "Demre-Mira-Kekova" is in great demand. The city has preserved a beautiful ancient Roman theater, the size of which allows one to judge the importance of this large seaside center in antiquity. Kekova is an island. It is notable for the fact that its shores are a continuation of the walls of the city sunk as a result of the earthquake. The modern city of Demre, which is the center of the province of the same name in Turkey, is very good.
Very short list
Ancient cities of the world are mysterious and beautiful. The list of the most famous is as follows: Byblos, Jericho and Aleppo, followed by Susa, Damascus, El Faiyum and Plovdiv. It would be fair to indicate Derbent and Zurich, " the eternal City» Rome, as well as several settlements ancient China(Ningbo, Changsha, Changzhou and others).
The disappeared Babylon, Palmyra, Pompeii, Ur and Mycenae complete this more than modest list of cities of antiquity. Ancient Persian Persipolis boasts unique sights. At one time it was the capital of the Achaemenid Empire, which founded a huge state in the 6th-5th centuries BC, later conquered by Alexander the Great. All ancient cities are surrounded by legends, which are very interesting to get acquainted with.