Important Ancient Cities--From Babylon to Rome
by Jacob Malewitz, Thebes City One
A guide to important cities in history
History is full of interesting cities that laid the foundations for the modern countries of today. This short guide will tell you the basics of cities like Athens and Babylon.
The greatest Babylonian leader was Hammurabi.
Rome is perhaps the city with the longest history.
Athens played a key role in defeating the Persian empire.
DID: In Sparta, young men were trained for war from an early age.
Babylon – Babylon was at the crossroad of civilization for a millennia, and is perhaps the most important of all cities in antiquity. Babylon is where major leaders of history founded one of the first major cities at the crossroads of civilization, where the Hanging Garden were built (one of the seven wonders of the ancient world), and where the first major laws were enacted. Hammurabi is probably the most important leader of Babylon, as his laws would be forerunners for all future laws of all empires, republics, and democracies. Babylon was ruled by many empires. It was part of the Assyrian Empire, Babylonian empire, Persian empire, and is now in the modern country of Iraq.
Rome – Rome is perhaps the city with the most recorded history of any other. It’s rise and fall has been recorded in countless books. It made war and conquered most of the lands the other classical cities in this article. It conquered Greece, Carthage, Babylon, Egypt, Israel, and founded the major cities in Gaul (Modern day France). The leaders are the stuff of legend, Caesar perhaps being the most famous. It was founded on the basis of a Republic, and had early relations with another Italian state, the Etruscans. What made Rome so powerful was the legion, a unified group of foot soldiers which rarely lost during Rome’s best years (See Carthage). Rome was originally founded by Greeks. It’s fall from grace is chronicled in the Gibbon’s classic history “The History of the Decline and Fall of The Roman Empire.”
Athens – Athens was perhaps the birthplace of the true democracy. Though there was criteria to the voting there; a person had to own land. It was the home of some of the greatest thinkers during ancient times including Socrates, Pericles (or Perikles), and Sophocles (as noted on Wikipedia). Athens was a major trading city, and during the ancient era fielded an impressive fleet of warships. Athens was key in fighting off the continued attempts of the Persian empire to conquer Greece.
Sparta – Sparta was a military state to be reckoned with in most of antiquity. Youth were recruited at a young age for this military state, some as early as 14. Sparta is most famous for its Spartan soldiers, whom fought in a Phalanx which devastated other armies (notably at the famous battle of Thermopylae) It defeated and conquered Athens in the Peloponnesian War. Since it was a military state, it had less innovation than cities like Babylon and Athens, but the strength of its soldiers kept it free for longer than Athens.
Carthage – Carthage was as important a city in the classical era as any, mainly because of its influence in the Mediterranean. Before the rise of Rome, and after the fall of Alexander the Great’s empire, Carthage dominated the seas. The Carthaginian people were said to sacrifice babies to the gods. The port of Carthage was one technological achievement that should have been considered a wonder for its vastness in size. Carthage also had quality ship builders. Carthage battled Rome in the Punic Wars, and had one of the greatest generals ever in Hannibal. Carthage was defeated by Rome in the last Punic war, and the city was burned to the ground. According to Wikipedia, it was founded by Phoenician traders.
Thebes – Thebes should be included, as important as Athens, Rome, and Babylon, even Carthage. It was a classical city. You had monuments. You had histories. You had wars. You had endless ideas of love and peace. There were some times too many wars. There were sometimes battles with these other cities and empires. There were wars between the Babylonians and The Egyptians, there were many wars between the Greeks and The Egyptians, and even Carthage and Rome conquered Egypt. Egypt and its capital Thebes perhaps were the longest ancient city to last so long. The Egyptians were one of the earliest races of men, and perhaps built the most monuments.
Where do you go next? I say you look further, you might include the other cities, such as Constantinople. There were many others, but I am no perfectionist. This is idea, and Board.
by Jacob Malewitz, Thebes City One
A guide to important cities in history
History is full of interesting cities that laid the foundations for the modern countries of today. This short guide will tell you the basics of cities like Athens and Babylon.
The greatest Babylonian leader was Hammurabi.
Rome is perhaps the city with the longest history.
Athens played a key role in defeating the Persian empire.
DID: In Sparta, young men were trained for war from an early age.
Babylon – Babylon was at the crossroad of civilization for a millennia, and is perhaps the most important of all cities in antiquity. Babylon is where major leaders of history founded one of the first major cities at the crossroads of civilization, where the Hanging Garden were built (one of the seven wonders of the ancient world), and where the first major laws were enacted. Hammurabi is probably the most important leader of Babylon, as his laws would be forerunners for all future laws of all empires, republics, and democracies. Babylon was ruled by many empires. It was part of the Assyrian Empire, Babylonian empire, Persian empire, and is now in the modern country of Iraq.
Rome – Rome is perhaps the city with the most recorded history of any other. It’s rise and fall has been recorded in countless books. It made war and conquered most of the lands the other classical cities in this article. It conquered Greece, Carthage, Babylon, Egypt, Israel, and founded the major cities in Gaul (Modern day France). The leaders are the stuff of legend, Caesar perhaps being the most famous. It was founded on the basis of a Republic, and had early relations with another Italian state, the Etruscans. What made Rome so powerful was the legion, a unified group of foot soldiers which rarely lost during Rome’s best years (See Carthage). Rome was originally founded by Greeks. It’s fall from grace is chronicled in the Gibbon’s classic history “The History of the Decline and Fall of The Roman Empire.”
Athens – Athens was perhaps the birthplace of the true democracy. Though there was criteria to the voting there; a person had to own land. It was the home of some of the greatest thinkers during ancient times including Socrates, Pericles (or Perikles), and Sophocles (as noted on Wikipedia). Athens was a major trading city, and during the ancient era fielded an impressive fleet of warships. Athens was key in fighting off the continued attempts of the Persian empire to conquer Greece.
Sparta – Sparta was a military state to be reckoned with in most of antiquity. Youth were recruited at a young age for this military state, some as early as 14. Sparta is most famous for its Spartan soldiers, whom fought in a Phalanx which devastated other armies (notably at the famous battle of Thermopylae) It defeated and conquered Athens in the Peloponnesian War. Since it was a military state, it had less innovation than cities like Babylon and Athens, but the strength of its soldiers kept it free for longer than Athens.
Carthage – Carthage was as important a city in the classical era as any, mainly because of its influence in the Mediterranean. Before the rise of Rome, and after the fall of Alexander the Great’s empire, Carthage dominated the seas. The Carthaginian people were said to sacrifice babies to the gods. The port of Carthage was one technological achievement that should have been considered a wonder for its vastness in size. Carthage also had quality ship builders. Carthage battled Rome in the Punic Wars, and had one of the greatest generals ever in Hannibal. Carthage was defeated by Rome in the last Punic war, and the city was burned to the ground. According to Wikipedia, it was founded by Phoenician traders.
Thebes – Thebes should be included, as important as Athens, Rome, and Babylon, even Carthage. It was a classical city. You had monuments. You had histories. You had wars. You had endless ideas of love and peace. There were some times too many wars. There were sometimes battles with these other cities and empires. There were wars between the Babylonians and The Egyptians, there were many wars between the Greeks and The Egyptians, and even Carthage and Rome conquered Egypt. Egypt and its capital Thebes perhaps were the longest ancient city to last so long. The Egyptians were one of the earliest races of men, and perhaps built the most monuments.
Where do you go next? I say you look further, you might include the other cities, such as Constantinople. There were many others, but I am no perfectionist. This is idea, and Board.
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