Турчиної Єлизавети
ПОб-1-20-4.0д
European capitals
Berlin's history begins with its founding in the 13th century. It became the
capital of the Margrave of Brandenburg in 1417, followed by
Brandenburg-Prussia and the Kingdom of Prussia. Prussia grew rapidly
in the 18-19th centuries and in 1871 formed the basis of the German
Empire, which lasted until 1918, after the defeat of the empire in the First
World War. After 1900, Berlin became a major city in the world, known for
its leading roles in science, humanities, music, museums, higher
education, government, diplomacy and military affairs. He also played a
role in manufacturing and finance. During the Second World War, it was
practically destroyed by bombing, artillery and violent street fighting. He
was divided among the winners and lost his role as world leader. After
German reunification in 1990, Berlin was rebuilt as the capital and major
city of the world.
Interesting Facts:
● In the world another 117 settlements are called Berlin.
● Berlin is located on the banks of two rivers: the Spree and the Havel, and
therefore surrounded and crossed by 1700 bridges. This is even more than
in Venice.
● The 368-meter Berliner Fernzehturn is the tallest structure in Germany and
one of the tallest in Europe.
● In one of the historical museums of Berlin you can see a unique exhibit -
Napoleon's headdress, lost by him during the Battle of Waterloo.
● In one of the historical museums of Berlin you can see a unique exhibit -
Napoleon's headdress, lost by him during the Battle of Waterloo.
The Vatican’s history as the seat of the Catholic Church began with the construction of a
basilica over St. Peter’s grave in Rome in the 4th century A.D. The area developed into a
popular pilgrimage site and commercial district, although it was abandoned following the
move of the papal court to France in 1309. After the Church returned in 1377, famous
landmarks such the Apostolic Palace, the Sistine Chapel and the new St. Peter’s Basilica
were erected within the city limits. Vatican City was established in its current form as a
sovereign nation with the signing of the Lateran Pacts in 1929.
Interesting Facts:
● The Vatican is the smallest independent state in the world.
● A limited number of objects are put on the map of the state, namely 78.
● The Vatican does not have its own official language. Documents are most often published in
Italian and Latin, and people speak English, Italian, French, German, Spanish and other
languages.
● Before the advent of Christianity, the place where the modern Vatican is located was considered
sacred, access to ordinary people was prohibited here.
● To climb to the top of the cathedral, you will have to climb 537 steps. If you don't feel like walking,
you can take the elevator.
Most likely, the history of Stockholm should begin precisely
from a small fishing village. In 1187, the village began to turn
into a fortified point. Since 1252, the settlement begins to be
referred to as a city, and Jarl Birger is called its founder. The
end of the 15th century was marked by the largest
anti-Danish uprising led by Sten Sture, who became a
national hero. XVII century - rapid growth, ahead of other
cities, since 1634 - the status of the capital of the Kingdom of
Sweden; XVIII century - the plague epidemic, which
significantly reduced the population of the city, the war with
Russia, which weakened the country's economy. XIX century:
in the first half of the city is in decline, its role in the
European economy is declining; the second half of the same
century is characterized by economic growth, the emergence
of new industries, and the growth of trade relations.
Interesting Facts:
1. Stockholm is built on 14 islands connected by 57 bridges.
2. Gamla Stan is one of the best preserved medieval urban centers in Europe. A series of cobbled streets,
Baroque buildings, Gothic churches, old restaurants give a good visual representation of the historical
past of the city, founded in 1252.
3. The oldest remaining building in Stockholm - Riddarholskirkan - is used exclusively as a resting place for
Swedish monarchs. It was built in 1270.
4. Stockholm Metro is a separate attraction of the city. Tourists go there as a museum, since the Stockholm
metro is called the longest art gallery in the world. Here, over 90 of the 100 stations along the 68 miles of
track are decorated with mosaics, paintings, sculptures and carvings from the 1950s.
5. The Swedish capital constantly occupies the top positions in the ranking of the most comfortable cities in
the world. Of course, the results of such a "hit parade" are controversial, but this is a recognition of the
merits of Stockholm, where the quality of life is highly valued and everything is done to make the
metropolis even more perfect.
Rome was founded on the Palatine Hill, where in the X century BC.
settled groups of shepherds and peasants belonging to the tribes of
the Latins. Etruscans lived on the other side of the Tiber River, which
flows at the foot of the hill. Very quickly commercial and trade
relations were established between the two settlements. The villages
grew and expanded in area, after a while, merging into one city, in
which different cultures mixed. The first written documents about the
existence of Rome date back to about 500 BC, i.e. moment of
transition from monarchy to republic. Here the story is intertwined
with the legends of the first kings of Rome, who may have been
Etruscan Lucumons (rulers).
Interesting Facts:
● Heterosexual emperors were ridiculed in ancient Rome.
● The phrase "All roads lead to Rome" is explained by the
fact that before the 5th century AD, the Romans built
more than 85,000 km of roads throughout the empire.
● Rome is built on seven hills, namely: Palatine, Capitol,
Aventine, Quirinal, Viminal, Esquiline, Celius.
● The inscription SPQR on the coat of arms of Rome, as well
as it can be seen on Roman statues and buildings, stands
for "senatus populusque romanus" and means "Senate
and people of Rome".
● In 1870 Rome became the capital of Italy, before that the
capitals at different times were Florence and Turin.
Amsterdam grew out of a small fishing village at the mouth of the Amstel
River. In the 13th century, a dam was built on the river, and the city
became a center of trade. During the Reformation, its status increased,
Amsterdam took over a significant part of the goods from Antwerp and
became a haven for those who fled from religious persecution. In the 17th
century, the importance of the city increased, it became the center of a
huge trading empire with colonies in Southeast Asia. Amsterdam was
expanding among its network of canals, which still give it its
distinctiveness and elegance. By the 18th century, the city had fallen into
oblivion and re-emerged as a fashion center for all sorts of alternative
movements in the 1960s. After experiencing a bit of a crisis in the 1980s,
the city is now experiencing notable social and cultural advances, with a
host of outdoor summer activities and the coziness of clubs and bars.
Interesting Facts:
● This city has the largest number of museums in the world..
● Amsterdam is below sea level.
● On April 30, Queen's Day, the entire city dresses up in royal orange.
● The most enjoyable way to get around Amsterdam is by bike. More
than half a million "iron horses" are registered for the locals! Tourists
can rent bicycles right in the city center.
● Amsterdam is a city of canals with over 600 bridges. The most
beautiful are Blauburg and Mahere Bruges.
1. Which city is the most ancient?
2. The history of which city was the most interesting
and why?
