The most ancient city in the world: what is it like? The most ancient cities of Russia

Russia is an ancient country. And on its territory there are many cities whose age has exceeded a thousand years. The historical and cultural heritage that they have preserved is an invaluable gift from past generations to future generations.

We present to you the oldest cities in Russia.

The official founding date of one of the cities that now make up golden ring Russia is considered to be 990. And the founder is Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavich.

Under the leadership of Vladimir Monomakh and Yuri Dolgoruky, the city became an important stronghold for the defense of the Rostov-Suzdal principality. And under Prince Andrei Bogolyubsky, Vladimir became the capital of the principality.

During the Tatar raids (1238 and later), the city amazingly wasn't particularly hurt. Even the Golden Gate has survived to this day, although in a slightly different form from its original form.

On the territory of Vladimir there is the Vladimir Central prison, glorified by Mikhail Krug, built under Catherine II. It contained the following famous personalities, like Vasily Stalin, son of Joseph Stalin, Mikhail Frunze and dissident Julius Daniel.

9. Bryansk -1032 years

It is not known exactly when exactly the city of Bryansk arose. The approximate date of its foundation is considered to be 985.

In 1607, the city was burned so that it would not fall to False Dmitry II. It was rebuilt and for the second time survived the siege of the troops of the “Tushinsky Thief”.

In the 17th century, Bryansk was one of the most important trading centers in Russia. And currently it is an important industrial center of the country.

8. Pskov – 1114 years

The founding date of Pskov is considered to be 903, when the city was first mentioned in the Laurentian Chronicle. Olga, the first Christian princess in Rus' and wife Prince of Kyiv Igor Rurikovich, originally from Pskov.

For a long time, Pskov was one of the largest cities in Europe and was an impregnable barrier on the western borders of the country.

And in March 1917, while at Pskov station, the last Russian Emperor Nicholas II abdicated the throne and became simply a Romanov citizen.

7. Smolensk - 1154 years

In September, beautiful and ancient Smolensk will celebrate its anniversary - 1155 years since its founding. It is only one year behind its closest rival in terms of mention in the chronicles (863 versus 862 for Murom).

For many centuries, this “key city” protected Moscow from attacks by a number of European countries. IN Time of Troubles Residents of Smolensk heroically held a siege for 20 months in the fortress, which was besieged by Polish troops. Although the Poles still managed to take the city, King Sigismund III, who spent all his money on the siege, had to abandon the idea of ​​going to Moscow. And the Moscow garrison of Poles, who did not receive military assistance, surrendered to the Russian militia under the leadership of Dmitry Pozharsky and Kuzma Minin.

6. Murom – 1155 years

This small town, standing on the left bank of the Oka, is mentioned in the Tale of Bygone Years. Its name supposedly came from the Muroma tribe, although historians do not rule out an inverse relationship. One of the main characters of the Russian epic epic, the legendary hero Ilya Muromets, comes from the city of Murom. The townspeople are proud of this and even erected a monument to the hero in the city park.

5. Rostov the Great - 1156 years

Rostov, the current center of the Yaroslavl region, traces its official chronology back to 862. After its founding, the city became one of the most important settlements in the Rostov-Suzdal land. And he got the prefix “Great” thanks to the Ipatiev Chronicle. In it, when describing the events of 1151 (the victory of Prince Izyaslav Mstislavich over Yuri Dolgoruky), Rostov was called the Great.

4. Veliky Novgorod – 1158 years

At the beginning of June 2018, Veliky Novgorod will celebrate the 1159th anniversary of its founding. According to the official version, Rurik was called to reign here. And in 1136 Novgorod became the first free republic in the history of feudal Rus'. The city escaped the fate of many Russian cities and was not affected by the Mongol invasion. Precious architectural monuments of Rus' from the pre-Mongol period have been preserved in it to this day.

3. Old Ladoga - over 1250 years old

In 2003, the village of Staraya Ladoga celebrated its 1250th anniversary. Until 1703, the settlement was called “Ladoga” and had the status of a city. The first mention of Ladoga dates back to 862 AD (the time of the calling of the Varangian Rurik to reign). There is even a version that Ladoga is the first capital of Rus', because Rurik reigned there, and not in Novgorod.

2. Derbent - over 2000 years

If you conduct a survey about which is the most old town in Russia, then the majority educated people will be called Derbent as such. This sun-drenched city, the southernmost in Russia, located in the Republic of Dagestan, officially celebrated its 2000th anniversary in September 2015. However, many Derbent residents, as well as some scientists conducting excavations on the territory of Derbent, are confident that the city is 3000 years older.

The Caspian Gate - that’s exactly what it is ancient name Derbent - as a geographical object was mentioned back in the 6th century. Don  e. in the works of the ancient Greek geographer Hecataeus of Miletus. And the beginning modern city was founded in 438 AD.  e. Then Derbent was the Persian fortress of Naryn-Kala, with two fortress walls blocking the path along the shore of the Caspian Sea. And the earliest mention of Derbent as a stone city was in 568 AD or the 37th year of the reign of Shah Khosrow I Anushirvan.

The date of 2000 years is not exact, but more of an anniversary date, and refers to the time of the appearance of the first fortifications in Caucasian Albania.

Until 2014, when the Crimean Peninsula returned to Russia, Derbent held the title of the oldest Russian city. However, in 2017, the Rambler / Saturday media reported that The Academic Council of the Institute of Archeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences recognized Kerch as the most ancient city in Russia. The ruins of the ancient Greek colony of Panticapaeum have been preserved on the territory of the city. Historically, Kerch is the heir of Panticapaeum and its age has exceeded 2600 years.

According to archaeological research, the foundation of Kerch dates back to the time range from 610 to 590 BC. e. Historical and architectural monuments belonging to the different eras. These include: burial mounds from the Bronze Age, the ruins of the city of Nymphaeum, the ancient settlement of Myrmekiy, etc.

Kerch did not immediately receive its current name, after Panticapaeum ceased to be historical and cultural center Black Sea region.

• In the 8th century, the city came under the rule of the Khazar Khaganate and was renamed from Panticapaeum to Karsha or Charsha.
• In the 10th century, the Northern Black Sea region came under the control of the Rus. The Tmutarakan principality appeared, which included the city of Karsha, named Korchev. It was one of the most important sea gates of Kievan Rus.
• In the 12th century, Korchev came under Byzantine rule, and in the 14th century it became part of the Black Sea Genoese colonies, and was called Vospro, as well as Cherchio. U local inhabitants The name Korchev has also been preserved in everyday use.
• In the 15th century, the merchant and diplomat Josaphat Barbaro, in one of the chapters of his work “Travels to Tana,” named the city Chersh (Kersh).
• In 1475, the Turks captured the Genoese colonies, and Cerchio became part of Ottoman Empire. The city began to be called Cherzeti. He repeatedly suffered from raids by Zaporozhye Cossacks.
• In the 16th century, ambassadors of the Moscow kings going to the Crimean Khan knew the city as “Kerch”.
• In 1774, Kerch (already under its final name) became part of Russian Empire. This happened following the results of the Russian-Turkish War of 1768-1774.

In order for Kerch to officially top the list of the oldest cities in Russia, it is necessary to obtain the approval of the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences and Russian government. The management of the East Crimean Nature Reserve prepared the relevant documents last year.

Russia is a country with ancient history, and although it cannot compete with such patriarchs as Greece or India, there are also cities here that date back more than one century.

The age of this city is determined only approximately - about 5 thousand years, it is impossible to say more precisely. But even such an approximate calculation makes us respect this city. It was also mentioned by ancient Greek scientists, in particular by the geographer Hectius of Miletus, calling the city the Caspian Gate. The city really is located on a unique section of the mountain road, blocking the only passage.

It is located on the territory of the Republic of Dagestan, which today belongs to Russia. This causes a lot of controversy on the question of whether Derbent can be classified as an ancient city of Russia, because when it appeared and became famous, Russia did not yet exist at all, and it is difficult to call it Russian. However, it must be recognized that it is indeed the oldest settlement within the borders modern Russia.

But this city does not cause any controversy. This is truly one of the first cities to appear on the territory of Russia; in many ways, its history began with this city. Even the date of its foundation is known - 859 AD. Of course, there were settlements before this, but only Veliky Novgorod became large enough to be called a city, and it has also been preserved to this day not only in the form of a mound.

Today Veliky Novgorod is a real museum city under open air. Ancient cathedrals, churches, ancient museums, houses and buildings - coming here without a camera is a real crime.

This is the case when the name perfectly matches the essence; Ladoga is not just old, it is very old. It is believed that there were settlements in this place even longer, but they united into a city in 753. The location of the city was extremely successful - on a difficult rift between two lakes, so it quickly grew into an important shopping mall ancient Rus'. True, historians consider the year of the city’s founding to be 862, at the time of its first mention, which immediately throws it back in the ranking of the country’s ancient cities.

Now Staraya Ladoga is a village with a relatively small number of inhabitants, only about two thousand people, but it holds the proud title of the ancient capital of Northern Rus'.

This ancient city belong to a whole galaxy of settlements, the foundation of which dates back to the same year 862. It was a fruitful year. Sometimes it is called Old Izborsk to emphasize its venerable age, as well as to distinguish it from New Izborsk.

Despite this status, today it does not even reach the city. Less than a thousand people live here and rely on tourists to survive. But they don’t leave Izborsk with their attention.

Most often, this city is called Rostov the Great, firstly, to emphasize its unique historical value, and secondly, to distinguish it from Rostov-on-Don - a much larger, but also younger city.

It was founded in the same year 862, but, unlike many, it did not degenerate into a village-museum, but remains a living and active city, albeit with a small population - only 31 thousand people.

And another representative of the glorious year 862, Murom, is one of the ten oldest cities in Russia. Initially, representatives of the Finno-Ugric tribe Muroma lived here, who gave the name to the city. Or they began to be called that after the settlement. There are other versions of the origin of the name, but one thing is certain: Murom is an important city for the history of Russia.

Now more than 100 thousand satisfied Russians live in it. Not surprising, because Murom is considered one of the most comfortable and comfortable cities to live in.

There is still debate about when Belozersk appeared, but official sources place it in the already familiar year 862. Questions may arise as to why so many ancient cities date from the same year. The reason is in the “Tale of Bygone Years” - it was in this chronicle that these settlements were first mentioned. Accordingly, the date to which this work refers is considered the official date of their foundation.

Not all old cities in Russia date back to 862, and Smolensk is the best confirmation. This is not just a hero city and the center of the Smolensk region, it is also one of the oldest in Russia. The official date of its foundation is 863. Thus, it is only slightly behind Izborsk, Ladoga and company.

The city stood on the famous route “from the Varangians to the Greeks.” It is believed that shipbuilders pitched their boats here, which was the reason for its name.

Pskov was quite large when it was founded, and it remains a large (relatively) city today. This is the administrative center of the Pskov region, and by local standards, quite a lot of people live here - 200 thousand. They are lucky: they already live in a place where thousands of tourists come every year to admire its sights and historical monuments.

The founding of Uglich dates back to 937, which allowed it to be among the ten oldest cities in the country, although last number. Like many ancient settlements, it is based on the Volga, at the place where it turns. Apparently, this was the reason for the appearance of this name - the corner - Uglich. There is another version: many believe that coals were burned here. There is a third version that many representatives of the Uglichi people lived here. It’s hard to say which one is correct, but it doesn’t matter.

Now you know what the oldest city in Russia is and how long ago it was founded. Perhaps our rating will tell you where to go on vacation next time instead of the banal Egypt or Turkey. In Russia there is also something to see.

Video about Derbent:

The most ancient cities in the world - some of them disappeared from the face of the earth forever, leaving only ruins and memories. And there are settlements whose names have paved a long way in history and have survived to this day. Their streets are full of architectural sights, magnificent in their beauty and monumentality, looking at which you are mentally transported back to the depths of centuries.

Jericho is the oldest city on Earth

The Judean Hills dominate the West Bank. At their foot, at the mouth of the river flowing into the Dead Sea, is the ancient city in the world - Jericho. On its territory, archaeologists have discovered fragments of ancient buildings dating back to 9500 BC. e.

The history of this settlement was described in the Old Testament. It is also mentioned in Roman chronicles. There is a legend that Jericho was brought as a gift to Cleopatra by Mark Antony. But magnificent buildings in this city were built by King Herod, who received rule over this city from the Emperor of Rome, Augustus. It was during his era that many monuments appeared ancient architecture, preserved in this city to this day.
There are also records that christian church appeared in Jericho in the first century AD. Constant raids by Bedouins and hostility between Muslims and knights led to the decline of the city by the 9th century. AD In the 19th century, the Turks destroyed the once prosperous center ancient world Jericho.

It was only in 1920 that the oldest city in the world, Jericho, received its second life. Arabs began to populate it. Now it is permanently home to approximately 20,000 people.

The main attraction is the Tel es-Sultan hill, on which stands a tower dating back to the 6000th century. BC

Nowadays, military operations are constantly taking place in Jericho, a disputed land between Palestine and Israel. For this reason, the beauty of this place is hidden from tourists. At the very least, the governments of many countries do not recommend their citizens to visit it.

Famous surviving cities of antiquity

Over the course of many centuries, civilizations developed and cities appeared. Some of them were destroyed as a result of wars or natural disasters. Few of the most ancient cities in the world, which have survived multiple eras, can still be visited today:

On earth, which are named as the most ancient cities in the world. Many of them are still being destroyed today, despite the establishment of special protection regimes. international organization UNESCO.

Cities are like people: they are born, live and die. But their age can be thousands of years. But, like people, not everyone achieves success. Some cities that were previously large settlements are degenerating into tiny villages, others are becoming completely deserted. But sometimes they get lucky and remain truly active cities for thousands of years. And the most ancient cities have been inhabited not even for hundreds, but for thousands of years.

Surely you have heard about the city of Jericho, its walls and the pipes that destroyed them. About Joshua's war with this city, during which he massacred all the inhabitants except one family. In the Bible, this settlement is mentioned many times; it is not surprising that many consider this city to be exceptionally legendary.

But it actually exists, and is the oldest city in the world. It became a large populated area around the third millennium BC, that is, people have been living in it continuously for more than 50,000 years. It remained intermittently for even longer, from about the ninth millennium BC, that is, another 6000 years. Today it is the capital of one of the provinces in the Palestinian territory.

During this time, the city saw everything: the emergence and collapse of civilizations, the emergence of new religions and the death of old ones, new inventions and breakthroughs... If stones could talk, then Jericho would become the best teacher of history. But, alas, they are silent...

If Damascus is younger than Jericho, it is not by much - only 500 years. The first mention of it as a city dates back to 2500 BC. But as a settlement it appeared much earlier - 10-11 thousand years ago. Today it has become the capital of Syria, despite being the second largest. But this does not prevent it from being the cultural capital of the Promised Land. In addition, it is considered one of the objects cultural heritage and is listed by UNESCO as being in danger of destruction.

Bible closes the top three oldest cities in the world. Despite the fact that the city still lives and lives in this same place, it bears a different name - Jbeil. However, foreigners always called him Byblos (or Byblos). Through this large port they exported many goods, including papyrus. Therefore, its Greek name, like the word “book” itself, came from this locality.

This settlement appeared about four thousand years ago.

Today this Lebanese city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, because it is practically a monument of history and architecture.

Susa

This Iranian city is rightfully considered one of the oldest on earth; it appeared about 7 thousand years ago, becoming a place of permanent settlement for a fairly large number of people. He remains so now. Susa has seen dozens of civilizations and has been the capital of states more than once. Now it is a relatively small settlement, home to about 60-70 thousand people, mainly Persian Jews and Shiite Arabs.

Derbent is the most ancient city in Russia. This monument to the history of Dagestan is located. Its name translates as “closed gate,” which is no coincidence - it has become a kind of Caspian gate (it is located on a narrow passage between the Caucasus mountains and the Caspian Sea). It is not surprising that an active city grew and constantly existed on this site. By official versions, it appeared about six thousand years ago, in bronze age.

Saida

Lebanon is generally lucky with ancient cities, and Saida is one of them. As shown historical research, it appeared as a city around 4000 thousand years BC. But archaeologists claim that people periodically appeared on its territory long before this, already in the tenth millennium BC. In the Bible he was called "the firstborn of Canaan", hinting at his antiquity. Historians claim that it was from this city that the culture of Phenicia, one of the largest civilizations of the ancient world, grew.

Faiyum

Egyptian civilization is considered one of the most ancient, but the city belonging to it appeared on our list only now. On the other hand, it is difficult to talk about the age of such cities, because there are no exact dates, there are only approximate data. So the foundation of Fayyum is attributed to the same fourth millennium BC as Saidu, and it is quite difficult to say which of them is older. It is located in the Egyptian region under the funny name Crocodilopolis, which appeared due to the cult of the god with a crocodile head - Petsuchos.

Bulgaria can boast of more than one ancient city, but Plovdiv is the best of them. He is a kind of contemporary of the already mentioned Fayyum and Saida; the fourth millennium BC turned out to be quite productive. Now it has become the second largest settlement in Bulgaria and a major cultural center. History and architecture especially flourish here, which is not surprising, given the number of picturesque ruins and ancient buildings.

We hope that after reading this article, you have a better idea of ​​which city in the world appeared first. At the same time, it is worth noting that today we talked about those settlements that remain active from the moment of their appearance to the present day. After all, a city remains a city as long as people live in it; without them, it becomes ruins.

Absolutely every city has its own history, some of them are quite young, others have a history of several centuries, but there are also very ancient ones among them. Settlements that still exist today sometimes turn out to be terribly old. The age of the oldest cities is helped to clarify historical research and archaeological excavations, on the basis of which the estimated dates of their formation are established. Perhaps the ranking presented contains the oldest city in the world, or maybe we don’t know anything about it yet.

1. Jericho, Palestine (ca. 10,000-9,000 BC)

The ancient city of Jericho is mentioned many times in biblical texts, however, there it is called the “city of palm trees”, although its name is translated from Hebrew differently - “moon city”. Historians believe that it arose as a settlement around 7,000 BC, but there are finds that indicate an older age - 9,000 BC. e. To put it another way, people settled here before the Ceramic Neolithic, during the Chalcolithic period.
Since ancient times, the city was at the intersection of military paths, which is why the Bible contains a description of its siege and miraculous capture. Jericho has changed hands many times, with its most recent transfer to modern-day Palestine occurring in 1993. Over the course of thousands of years, residents left the city more than once, however, then they certainly returned and reanimated its life. This “eternal city” is located 10 kilometers from the Dead Sea, and tourists constantly flock to its attractions. Here, for example, was the courtyard of King Herod the Great.

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2. Damascus, Syria (10,000-8,000 BC)

Not far from Jericho there is another patriarch among the cities, not much, if not not, inferior to him in age - Damascus. The Arab medieval historian Ibn Asakir wrote that after the Flood, the Damascus wall was the first to appear. He believed that this city arose 4,000 BC. The first real historical data about Damascus dates back to the 15th century BC. e., at that time Egyptian pharaohs ruled here. From the 10th to the 8th centuries BC. e. it was the capital of the Damascus kingdom, after which it passed from one kingdom to another, until in 395 it became part of Byzantine Empire. After the Apostle Paul visited Damascus in the first century, the first followers of Christ appeared here. Damascus is now the capital of Syria and the second largest city in the country after Aleppo.

3. Byblos, Lebanon (7,000-5,000 BC)

The ancient city of the Phoenicians, Byblos (Gebal, Gubl) is located 32 km from Beirut on the Mediterranean coast. There is still a city in this place, but it is called Jabel. In ancient times, Byblos was a major seaport, through which, in particular, papyrus was transported to Greece from Egypt, which the Hellenes called “byblos” because of this, which is why they called Gebal that way. It is reliably known that Gebal existed already 4,000 BC. e. It stood near the sea on a well-protected hill, and below there were two bays with harbors for ships. A fertile valley stretched around the city, and a little further from the sea, mountains covered with dense forest began.
People noticed such an attractive place a long time ago and settled here during the early Neolithic. But when the Phoenicians arrived, the locals for some reason abandoned their inhabited places, so the newcomers did not even have to fight for them. As soon as they settled in a new place, the Phoenicians immediately surrounded the settlement with a wall. Later, in its center, near the source, they built two temples to the main deities: one to the mistress Baalat-Gebal, and the second to the god Reshef. Since then, the story of Gebal has become completely reliable.

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4. Susa, Iran (6,000-4,200 BC)

In modern Iran, in the province of Khuzestan, there is one of the oldest cities on the planet - Susa. There is a version that its name comes from the Elamite word “susan” (or “shushun”), meaning “lily”, since these places abounded in these flowers. The first signs of habitation here date back to the seventh millennium BC. e., and during excavations ceramics from the fifth millennium BC were discovered. e. A well-established settlement was formed here around the same time.
Susa is spoken of in ancient Sumerian cuneiform scripts, as well as in later texts of the Old Testament and others. holy books. Susa was the capital of the Elamite kingdom until its capture by the Assyrians. In 668, after a fierce battle, the city was plundered and burned, and 10 years later the Elamite state disappeared. Ancient Susa had to endure destruction and bloody massacres many times, but it was certainly later restored. Now the city is called Shush, it is inhabited by about 65 thousand Jews and Muslims.

5. Sidon, Lebanon (5500 BC)

Now this city on the Mediterranean coast is called Saida and is the third largest in Lebanon. The Phoenicians founded it and made it their capital. Sidon was a significant Mediterranean trading port, which has partially survived to this day, being perhaps the oldest such structure. During its history, Sidon was part of different states many times, but was always considered an impregnable city. Nowadays it is inhabited by 200 thousand inhabitants.

6. Faiyum, Egypt (4000 BC)

In the El Fayoum oasis in Middle Egypt, surrounded by the sands of the Libyan Desert, lies the ancient city of El Fayoum. The Yusuf Canal was dug from the Nile to it. In the entire Egyptian kingdom it was the most ancient city. This area became known mainly for the reason that the so-called “Fayum portraits” were once discovered here. The Fayum, then called Shedet, which means "sea", was a frequent site for the pharaohs of the 12th Dynasty, as evidenced by the remains of temples and artifacts discovered here by Flinders Petrie.
Shedet was later called Crocodilopolis, the “City of Reptiles,” because its inhabitants worshiped the crocodile-headed god Sebek. Modern Fayoum has several mosques, baths, large bazaars and a lively daily market. Residential buildings here line the Yusuf Canal.

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7. Plovdiv, Bulgaria (4000 BC)

Within the boundaries of modern Plovdiv, the first settlements appeared in the Neolithic era, approximately 6000 BC. e. it turns out that Plovdiv is one of the oldest cities in Europe. 1200 BC e. there was a Phoenician settlement here - Eumolpia. In the 4th century BC. e. the city was called Odrys, as confirmed by bronze coins of that period. From the 6th century, Slavic tribes began to control it; later it entered the Bulgarian kingdom and changed its name to Pyldin. Over the following centuries, the city passed from the Bulgarians to the Byzantines and back more than once, until it was captured by the Ottomans in 1364. Now the city has many historical and architectural monuments, other cultural sites that attract many tourists to Plovdiv.

8. Antep, Türkiye (3650 BC)

Gaziantep is the oldest Turkish city, and there are not many peers in the world. It is located near the Syrian border. Until 1921, the city bore the more ancient name Antep, and the Turks decided to add the prefix “gazi” to it, meaning “brave”. IN early Middle Ages participants passed through Antep Crusades. When the Ottomans took possession of the city, they began to build inns and mosques here, turning it into a shopping center. Now, in addition to Turks, Arabs and Kurds live in the city, and total number The population is 850 thousand people. Many foreign tourists come to Gaziantep every year to see the ruins of the ancient city, bridges, museums and numerous attractions.

9. Beirut, Lebanon (3000 BC)

According to some sources, Beirut appeared 5,000 years ago, according to others - all 7,000. Over its centuries-old history, it could not avoid numerous destructions, but each time it found the strength to rise from the ashes. In the capital of modern Lebanon, archaeological excavations are constantly underway, thanks to which many artifacts of the Phoenicians, Hellenes, Romans, Ottomans and other temporary owners of the city were discovered. The first mention of Beirut dates back to the 15th century BC. e. in Phoenician records where it is called Barut. But this settlement existed one and a half thousand years before that.
It appeared on a large rocky cape, approximately in the middle of the coastal strip belonging to modern Lebanon. Perhaps the name of the city comes from ancient word"Birot" which means "well". For many centuries it was inferior in importance to its more powerful neighbors - Sidon and Tire, but in the ancient period its influence increased. There was a famous school of law here, which even developed the main tenets of the Justinian Code, that is, Roman law, which became the basis of the European legal system. Now the Lebanese capital is a famous tourist destination.

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10. Jerusalem, Israel (2800 BC)

This city is perhaps the most famous in the world, since there are holy places of monotheism - Jews, Christians and Muslims. Therefore, it is called the “city of three religions” and the “city of peace” (less successfully). The very first settlement arose here in the period 4500-3500 BC. e. The earliest known written mention of him (ca. 2000 BC) is contained in the Egyptian “curse texts”. Canaanites 1,700 BC e. They built the first walls of the city on the eastern side. Jerusalem's role in human history cannot be overstated. It is literally overloaded with historical and religious buildings; the Holy Sepulcher and the Al-Aqsa Mosque are located here. Jerusalem was besieged 23 times, and attacked another 52 times, twice it was destroyed and rebuilt, but life in it is still in full swing.