Oldest Cities of The World

Introduction:

The world has many wonders, but we often forget one when we see another. While these wonders are worth our attention, we should also take the time to learn about the history of ancient cities. Many civilizations throughout history have disappeared, but some cities have been inhabited for thousands of years. Let’s explore the oldest cities of the world together.

List of the Oldest Cities of the World:

• Damascus
• Jericho
• Aleppo
• Byblos
• Argos
• Athens
• Susa
• Erbil or Arbela
• Plovdiv

Damascus:

So, first of all, let’s go to the city of Damascus in Syria. The history of this city is not hundreds but thousands of years old. Our first and one of the oldest cities of the world. It would not be wrong to call it the oldest inhabited city in the world. Because this city has been inhabited for eleven thousand years, Damascus is also known as the capital of Arab culture. This city has seen the rise, fall, and end of many civilizations. Damascus was conquered by commanders of different nationalities and made it their base. New Babylon conquered it. Alexander the Great was also the ruler of this city, then it was conquered by the Roman general Pompey, after which it became the base throne of the Umayyad rulers of the Muslims. This city was also a part of the Ottoman Empire. It is also known as Al-Sham Damascus and is considered the fourth holiest city in Islam after Makkah, Madina, and Bait al-Maqdis.

The population of this city is more than 30 lacs. Its area is 105 square kilometers. Damascus would be among the relatively cool cities. The summers here are long, and the weather is dry during these months. However, the rains are heavy in the winter, and sometimes Damascus people enjoy snowfall. The ancient city of Damascus had seven gates. Among the important buildings in the city of Damascus are the Nabi Habeel Mosque, the Banu Umaiyyah Mosque, the Sayeda Ruqayyah Bint Hussain Ibn Ali Mosque, the Tomb of Sayeda Zainab Bint Hussain Ibn Ali, and the Tomb of Salahuddin Ayyubi. Chapel of Saint Paul. The House of Saint Ananias, the Cathedral of Damascus, and the Cathedral of Dormition are important buildings. The coffee houses here are famous, and people like Hookah and shisha.

Jericho:

Now let’s talk about Jericho, the second and one of the oldest cities in the world. The history of the settlement of this small city of Palestine in the Jordan Valley is about 10 to 11 thousand years old. This city was inhabited and destroyed many times. Archaeologists believe that this city has been settled at least twenty times. There are archeological sites of the old city at various places, which are still being researched. Romans, Byzantines, and Crusaders also ruled this city. Jericho was named Iriha by the Muslims. The Muslims conquered it during the reign of Umar (RA), and Jews and Christians settled in this city. The Seljuks did a lot of work in developing this city. After that, The Ottomans made it the business center of Palestine. The city is famous for its palm trees. Sugarcane and bananas are also cultivated here. Among its important buildings and places are the Tomb of Hazrat Musa, Mount of Temptation Ein-as-Sultan, Monastery of Saint Gerasimos, and Palace of Banu Umaiyah.

Aleppo:

Now let’s talk about another ancient city, Aleppo. It is the second largest city in Syria after Damascus. This is one of the oldest cities of the world. It also was the largest city in the country before the civil war started in 2011. After the civil war, its population decreased from 4.6 million people to 2.1 million people. Aleppo has also been inhabited for about eight thousand years. It has been an important commercial center since ancient times.

Aleppo was the largest city in the Syrian region for a long time. Even in the Ottoman Empire, it was the third largest city after Istanbul and Cairo. Like Damascus, this city has seen the rise and fall of many civilizations. Alexander the Great conquered this city in 333 BC. Romans and Byzantines were also the rulers of this city later. In 1183, Sultan Salahuddin Ayubi captured this city and developed it. Halaku Khan captured Aleppo in 1260 and Amir Timur in 1401.

The climate of Aleppo is similar to that of Damascus, where summers are hot and dry, with occasional snowfalls in winter. That means there is also an opportunity for tourists to enjoy the weather here. Pistachios and olives are widely cultivated here. Dry fruits are also the source of living for people here. You will find dozens of such shops in Al Madinah Souq Market. The inner city of Aleppo is also located within a wall, which has nine gates. The main buildings of Aleppo include the Aleppo Museum, the ancient citadel, the Al-Sheibani Building, and the Bab al-Farj Clock Tower.

Before the invasion of the Mongols, there were more than 175 bath areas in different areas of Aleppo, many of which were destroyed by the Mongols, but the remains of some of these still exist today and are famous worldwide. There are also hundreds of buildings on the outskirts of Aleppo called dead cities. These are about seven hundred. These buildings are called the Land of Forgotten Stories, and no one has complete information about them. However, some experts say that these buildings were located on trade routes, and as people’s trade routes changed, they left these houses and settled elsewhere. And these buildings remained like that.

Byblos:

Now, let’s talk about the city of Byblos in Lebanon, the neighboring country of Syria. Its history is over eight thousand years old, and has been continuously inhabited for seven thousand years. Byblos is located forty-two kilometers from the capital city of Beirut. The Arabic name is Jabil. Greeks, Egyptians, Romans, Crusaders, and Muslims have ruled this city. It was also a part of the Ottoman Empire. At the time of Lebanon’s independence in 1943, this city was under the occupation of the French. Byblos also has the status of being a favorite tourist destination. In 2016, it also received the title of “Arab Tour Capital.” The city is famous worldwide for its beautiful beaches, seafood restaurants, open bars, and cafes. Among the important buildings and historical places of Byblos are Ain al-Mulk or King of Spring, L-shaped temple, Byblos Wax Museum, Byblos Fossil Museum, Byblos Fort, Sultan Abdul Majid Mosque, Saint John’s Church and Temple of Balat Gebal.

Argos:

Let’s take a tour of Argos, one of the oldest cities in the world. This city is located in Greece, a country with ancient traditions, and has been declared the oldest inhabited city in Europe, with a history of seven thousand years. According to the 2022 census, the population of Argos is around twenty thousand people. However, twenty-eight hundred years ago, the city was home to five thousand people, and even in 4 BC, the population had reached thirty thousand. Interestingly, the population of this city is decreasing on average rather than increasing.

Situated in the south of Greece, Argos has survived ancient wars, which is why many of its ancient buildings are still in their original condition. It was also conquered by Alexander the Great, as well as the Byzantines and Crusaders. The Ottomans also occupied the city. Argos is considered the warmest region of cold Europe because it is the hottest place in Greece during the summer. The city’s people mostly rely on agriculture, with citrus fruits such as grapes, Malta, lemons, and apricots being produced, as well as olive trees.

Among the ancient buildings and places in Argos are Larissa Castle, the ancient theatre, the municipal market building, and the Hellinikon Pyramid.

Athens:

Athens, another city and capital of Greece, has a very old history. This city has been inhabited for more than seven thousand years. However, the traces of human presence on it are eleven thousand years old. This city is said to be the birthplace of Western civilizations, the place of knowledge and wisdom, and the home of philosophy this town has been inhabited since before Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. Athens is built around different hills. Summers in Athens are hot and dry. However, due to the hills in winter, it not only rains a lot but also gets a good amount of snow in January and February no tourist does not wish to visit Athens at least once in his life. The most special thing about Athens is its museums, where the sculptures and inscriptions reflect the vicissitudes of history. These museums include the National Archaeological Museum, Benaki Museum, New Acropolis Museum, Jewish Museum, and the Koromikos Archaeological Museum. Athens also has a special place in terms of sports events. The Olympic Games were held here twice, in 1896 and 2004.

Susa:

Let’s talk about the Asian country of Iran, which is Pakistan’s neighbor and located in its southwest. In the east of this country with ancient traditions is the six-and-a-half thousand-year-old city of Susa. According to some historical sources, the city was named after Susan, the grandson of Prophet Noah. It is said that Assyrian warriors had completely destroyed this city. However, it was rebuilt within a few years and flourished in the Persian Empire. Alexander the Great married his favorite wife, Stateira, in 324 BC in the same city. Muslims conquered this city under the leadership of Abu Musa al-Ashri. There is also the tomb of Prophet Daniel (PBUH). This small town has a long history, which is also expressed by the ruins here. Iran is the neighboring country.

Erbil or Arbela:

Iraq is the land of prophets and the center of ancient civilizations. One of its cities, Erbil or Arbela, has been inhabited for thousands of years. It is also one of the oldest cities of the world. Today, around three lac people live in this city. It is the most populated city in the Kurdistan Region. This six-thousand-year-old city has been ruled by Romans, Greeks, Persians, Mongols, and Turkish Ottomans in their respective eras. Its fort, Erbil, is also known as Hewler Fort. It was built about four thousand years ago. Today, the city is a beautiful blend of ancient and modern buildings. Summers here are long, dry, and hot, while winters are more temperate. Important buildings include the Qaysari Bazaar, Muzaffaria Minar, Erbil Museum, and Kurdish Textile Museum. Sidon or Saida, another city in Lebanon, has been inhabited for six thousand years.

This historical area located in the south of the country is today the sixth largest city of Lebanon. It is said that Sidon was the grandson of Noah’s son Ham. This city was named after him. Besides Assyrians, Babylonians, and Babylonians, Sidon was also ruled by Egyptians, Persians, Romans, and Greeks. The glass-making industry here not only made it famous but also made its inhabitants wealthy. The dyeing and embroidery industries are also working here. The ancient Phoenicians living in Sidon are known worldwide for their shipbuilding industry and shipping. These people of Phoenician descent have lived in this region for thousands of years, among the main buildings and historical sites of Citadel Sidon, Sidon Museum, Fort St. Louis, Sidon Mosque, and Ashman Temple.

Plovdiv:

Now let’s take a tour of Plovdiv, one of the oldest cities in the world. It is the second largest city in Bulgaria. The Thracians and Macedonians occupied this city for six thousand years, while the Romans, Greeks, Germans, and Crusaders also ruled this area. This area was also part of the Persian Empire and the Ottoman Empire. There are over two hundred archaeological sites in Plovdiv. As a center of different civilizations and cultures, this city has many museums and theaters. It was also declared the cultural capital of Europe in 2019. The riverbank on one side and the mountain peaks on the other add to its beauty. However, the number of tourists who come here to see this beauty is very low.

The government of Bulgaria has been continuously trying to promote tourism here for the past several years. The humidity in the air of this city is quite high, so the weather is less pleasant even though the temperature is not too high. However, not only is it very cold here in winter, but snowfall is also common. Important buildings and places in Plovdiv include Eirene Residence, Nebet Hill, and Plovdiv Museum. The Djumaya Mosque here is considered the oldest mosque in Europe after the Jamia Mosque in Spain. Even today, you can find old houses, streets, markets, and gates in the old part of the city.

To Conclude:

Apart from these oldest cities of the world, many cities have been inhabited for thousands of years, among them the city of Varanasi in India, the city of Fayyum in Egypt, and the city of Iran. Ray, the city of Balkh in Afghanistan, and the city of Jerusalem in Palestine are included. The Lebanese cities of Tire and Beirut have also been inhabited for thousands of years. Not only this, the cities of Multan, Taxila, and Peshawar are also included in the world’s oldest cities. Start your tour now if you want to visit the historical and cultural places. The beautiful historical buildings and sights in these cities will double the fun of your trip. That was all for the oldest cities of the world.