Time Travel: Discover the 7 oldest cities in the world and their impact on global history
These cities not only silently bear witness to the flow of time, but have also played crucial roles in shaping the contemporary world, offering a unique and fascinating insight into the origins of civilizations that have profoundly influenced global history.
Columns of the Karnak Temple, Egypt - Photo Reproduction/Istock Photo
The idea of time travel has long fascinated the human imagination, but for now it remains confined to science fiction. However, when looking back at history, we can make a sort of "time travel" while exploring the world's oldest cities. These ancient sites are silent witnesses to human development over the centuries, offering a window into ancient civilizations and their impact on global history.
Jericho, Palestine
Jericho is one of the oldest cities in the world - Photo Reproduction/Pexels
Year Founded: Approximately 9,000 BC
Jericho, a city mentioned in religious and historical texts, is recognized as one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Located in the West Bank, Palestine, on the banks of the Jordan River, 8 miles north of the Dead Sea and approximately 27 km from Jerusalem, it is approximately 270 meters below sea level, making it the lowest city on the planet.
There are several theories about the origin of the name Jericho. Locally, the inhabitants call it Ārīḥā in Arabic, meaning "fragrant", deriving from the Canaanite word (also present in Arabic and Hebrew), Reah, which has the same meaning. In Hebrew, Jericho is pronounced Yəriḥo. An alternative theory suggests that the name originates from the word "moon" (Yareah) in Canaanite and Hebrew, implying that the city was an ancient center of tourism to lunar gods.
Jericho is famous not only for its ancient walls, but also for housing the oldest tower ever discovered on Earth, along with one of the oldest statues depicting a human face. This city is a fascinating testament to the evolution of human society over the millennia.
Byblos, Lebanon
Roman ruins of the temple of Baccus in Byblos - Photo Reproduction/Istock Photo
Year of Foundation: between 8800 and 7000 BC approximately
Located on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, in modern-day Lebanon, 42 kilometers from Beirut, Byblos is a Lebanese city whose history spans millennia. Known for its rich commercial tradition, Byblos It was an important center of commerce and culture in ancient times, playing a crucial role in the dissemination of Phoenician writing. It is also a focus of attraction for archaeologists due to the successive phases of archaeological remains resulting from centuries of human occupation.
Byblos, is an ancient Phoenician port city known as Gubla (or Gebal) in Greek, had the name Kbn for the ancient Egyptians, later changed to Kpn. Although scholars still refer to it as Byblos, especially in reference to historical periods, it is now called Jubayl in Arabic, derived from the Canaanite form Gubla. Looks like it was through Byblos/Gubla that "Egyptian papyrus" was exported to Greece, giving rise to both the plant and the "scrolls" or "books" produced from it that received its name. It is also from the city that the name of the Bible originates.
Damascus, Syria
Ruins of Palmyra in Syria - Photo Reproduction/Getty Images
Year Founded: Approximately 6,300 BC
Damascus, nicknamed the "Jasmine City", is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities, boasting a rich and intricate history. As the capital of Syria, it has witnessed a myriad of historical events, from the times of ancient civilizations to the most recent empires, being the oldest country capital in the world. Its cultural and architectural traditions are living testaments to its importance throughout history. Furthermore, Damascus remains one of the main cultural and religious centers of the Levant.
Located in southwest Syria, it is the epicenter of a vast metropolitan area, with approximately 4.8 million inhabitants. Located in the eastern foothills of the Anti-Lebanon mountain range, 80 kilometers from the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, it stands on a plateau 680 meters above sea level. The semi-arid climate prevails in the region, influenced by the rain shadow effect. The Barada River meanders through the city.
First founded in the second millennium BC, it was selected as the capital of the Umayyad Caliphate from 661 to 750 AD. With the rise of the Abbasid dynasty, Islamic power migrated to Baghdad, resulting in a period of political decline for Damascus, although it regained its importance during the Ayyubid and Mamluk dynasties. Under Ottoman rule, the city fell into a state of decline, despite maintaining a certain cultural prestige. Currently, it is the center of the central government and houses all government ministries. In 2008, it was awarded the title of Arab Capital of Culture.
Sidon, Lebanon
Sea castle in Sidon - Photo Reproduction/Istock Photo
Year Founded: Around 4,000 BC
Sidon, which received its name from the "heir" of Canaan, the grandson of Noah, is the third largest city in Lebanon, is renowned for its Phoenician heritage and is located in the district of Sidon, on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, approximately forty kilometers north of Tire and forty-eight kilometers from the capital, Beirut. Considered one of the most important and possibly the oldest Phoenician cities, Sidon was the epicenter of a vast Mediterranean commercial empire. Its inhabitants were praised by Homer for their skill in producing glass and purple textiles, and it was they who established founding colonies in Tyre.
As an ancient commercial and port center, Sidon played a vital role in the spread of Phoenician culture across the Mediterranean region. Over the centuries, it was conquered by Philistines, Assyrians, Babylonians, Egyptians, Greeks and, finally, Romans before the Christian era. Herod the Great visited Sidon, and According to Christian tradition, both Jesus Christ and Paul of Tarsus were also there. On December 4, 1110, Sidon was sacked during the First Crusade. During the Crusades, it was part of the Lordship of Sidon and was repeatedly sacked until it was finally destroyed by the Saracens in 1249, before being razed again by the Mongols in 1260, whose remains of the original walls are still visible.
After falling under the rule of the Ottoman Empire in the 17th century, Sidon regained some of its former commercial importance. In the 19th century, it was captured and controlled by the Egyptians, with support from England and France. During World War I it was occupied by the British and after the war it became a French protectorate in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Aleppo, Syria
Aleppo Citadel/Istock Photo
Year Founded: Around 5,000 BC
Aleppo, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities, is a living testimony to its history, reflected in the residential buildings found in Tell Qaramel, which highlights its importance as a historical gem. Endowed with a rich cultural tapestry, Aleppo already was a prominent commercial center on the Silk Road, absorbing and radiating cultural and commercial influences over the centuries. Located in northern Syria, it is the second largest city in the country and the capital of the province of the same name, covering a vast area of 18,482 square kilometers and a population estimated at more than 4.6 million inhabitants in 2010, making it the largest province Syria in terms of population.
Strategically located between the Mediterranean Sea and the Euphrates River, Aleppo was initially built on a set of hills surrounding a hill where the city's castle was built. The Quwēq River meanders through the city, contributing to its importance as a vital commercial center. For centuries, Aleppo reigned as the main city of Greater Syria and the third in the Ottoman Empire, surpassed only by Constantinople and Cairo. Despite its proximity to Damascus, Aleppo is distinguished by its own identity, architecture and culture, rooted in a unique historical and geographic context.
Aleppo's historical relevance derives mainly from its position at the end of the Asian Silk Road, which linked Central Asia and Mesopotamia. However, with the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, maritime trade supplanted land routes, marking the beginning of a gradual decline for Aleppo. After the fall of the Ottoman Empire following World War I, the city lost rural territory to the north to modern-day Turkey, along with the important railway that connected it to Mosul.
Over the following decades, Aleppo continued to suffer significant losses, losing its access to the sea and adjacent territories to Turkey. However, Syria's isolation in recent decades has paradoxically contributed to preserving the ancient city of Aleppo, its medieval architecture and traditional heritage.
Recently, the city has witnessed a renaissance, slowly regaining its prominent position, as evidenced by the title of "Islamic Capital of Culture" awarded in 2006 and for successful efforts to restore historical monuments. However, between 2012 and 2016, Aleppo was the scene of violent conflicts, leaving much of the city in ruins and causing countless victims.
Luxor, Egypt
Luxor Temple - Photo Reproduction/Istock Photo
Year Founded: Approximately 3,200 BC
Luxor, formerly known as Thebes, is the home to some of Ancient Egypt's most impressive monuments, such as Luxor Temple and Karnak Temple. Its name derives from "the palaces", from the plural of qaṣr, a word borrowed from the Latin castrum, meaning "fortified field". This city testifies to the grandeur and sophistication of Egyptian civilization. Located south of Egypt, it is the capital of the province of the same name, with an estimated population of 487,896 inhabitants in 2010, covering an area of 416 km². It is often described as "the world's largest open-air museum", as the ruins of temple complexes at Karnak and Luxor are incorporated into the modern city.
The Nile River divides Luxor into two parts: the eastern bank, once dedicated to the living, where we find traces of the most important temples dedicated to the gods of Egyptian mythology; and the western bank, dedicated to the dead, housing some of the most important necropolises of Ancient Egypt, second only to those on the Giza plateau in Cairo, where significant archaeological discoveries were made, including Tutankhamun's tomb, found in 1922 by the renowned English archaeologist and Egyptologist Howard Carter.
On one side of the Nile River, there are also the monuments, temples and tombs of the Theban Necropolis, which includes the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens. Thousands of tourists from all over the world visit these monuments annually, contributing significantly to the modern city's economy.
Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Plovdiv Roman Theater - Photo Reproduction/Istock Photo
Year Founded: Around 4,000 BC
Plovdiv, one of the oldest cities in Europe, has a history that dates back to Antiquity. Plovdiv, a city in Bulgaria located in the Plovdiv district, occupies the heart of the Thracian plain. In 2007, it had a population of 378,107, making it the second largest city in the country. Crossed by the Maritsa River, the largest in southern Bulgaria, Plovdiv is a vital economic, transport, cultural and educational center. Although only one of the city's six districts extends to the north bank of the river, the majority of the city lies to the south. In 2019, Plovdiv was one of the European Capitals of Culture, along with Matera, in Italy.
With well-preserved architecture and cobblestone streets, Plovdiv is a true living museum that tells the history of different civilizations, from the Thracians to the Romans and Ottomans. Its history dates back to 6000 years ago, long before Athens or Rome, which places it among the longest continuously inhabited European cities. Originally known as Eumolpia, it was conquered in 342 BC by Philip II of Macedon, father of Alexander the Great, who then renamed it Philippopolis.
It later became independent under the rule of the Thracians, who called it Pulpudeva, until it was incorporated into the Roman Empire. Under Roman rule, its name changed to Trimonte, "City of three hills", and became the capital of the province of Thrace. Even today, numerous Roman remains can be found in the city. During the Fourth Crusade, the Duchy of Philippopolis was established there. In the 6th century, the Slavs took over the city, naming it -a Puldin. In 815, the Bulgarians conquered it. The term Plovdiv appeared in the 15th century.
During Ottoman rule, Plovdiv stood out as a crucial center of Bulgarian nationalist movements, and was where the first Bulgarian-language press was established. The city was liberated from the Ottomans in the Battle of Plovdiv in 1878. Plovdiv then became the capital of the semi-independent region of Eastern Rumelia, until its final union with Bulgaria in 1885. Under the communist government, which was established in the country after the Second World War, Plovdiv was the scene of several democratic movements that finally overthrew the pro-Soviet regime in 1989.
