London through the Years

London began as a Roman town called Londinium. Lundinium was built a few years after the Romans invaded Britain in the year 43 A.D. The Roman Emperor Claudius built a bridge across the river Thames and built Londinium as a port town for trade with Rome far over the ocean. In the year 60 A.D., the town was burned by enemies of the Romans. But the Romans rebuilt it. It seems that other raiders must have attacked the town after that, because in the year 200, the Romans built a big wall with seven gates around the town to protect it from further attacks.

As early as the 8th century (over one-thousand and two hundred years ago) London was described as a busy trading center. Because it was located on the Thames, ships with goods from all over the world sailed easily from the ocean upriver to London.

In the 9th century, the Vikings had the best ships on the ocean and knew how to navigate them. Since London was so easy to get to, the Vikings visited often for trading and raiding. London was the target of Viking attacks as early as 835. The city changed hands many times. It was an English town, then a Viking town, then English again, back and forth over many years.

Today, London is capital city of Great Britain. As you walk through the streets of the city, you will see that they are not paved with legendary gold, but they are paved with something more. London has an impressive history that stretches back through many centuries. On this ground stood King Alfred, the only English king to be called "Great." London streets which now roar with the sound of traffic once roared with the sound of battle. Fierce warriors fought where tourists walk. London Bridge remembers. Statue and streets all remember. The past is not gone and forgotten. It is remembered even in the names of modern-day places around the city. London truly is a city with interesting stories to tell!