9 of the Oldest Cities in the World ...

It is no surprise that one of the oldest cities in the world is the capital of ancient and modern Greece, Athens. Athens is known as the birthplace of modern civilization, giving birth or a home to the likes of Plato, Aristotle and Socrates. There have been inhabitants of the city for more than 7,000 years, although it is believed that the earliest settlement in Athens dates back to the 11th millennium B.C.

The first settlers in Byblos are believed to have arrived around 7,000 years ago, although there has been a permanent human presence for the past 5,000 years. It is not very well-known, but the word Bible comes from the name of Byblos, because Greek papyrus – which was used for the first Bibles – came from Byblos.

Although modern-day Jerusalem is threatening the old ways of life in the city, there are still some fragments of the old Jerusalem which is one of the oldest cities on the planet. Around 5,000 years ago the city was founded, and since then has gone on to play a pivotal role in many of the world’s religions, from Islam to Christianity and Judaism.

Scholars believe that Damascus is the oldest, continually-inhabited city in the world. It is believed that humans arrived and formed a settlement as long ago as 11,000 years, and even today it is one of the most populous cities in the region.

Recent digs have found that the site of Aleppo is the oldest human settlement in the world, dating back almost 13,000 years. It was the center of the Ancient World, and today serves as Syria’s largest city.

Some of the greatest civilizations to have ever existed passed through Sidon, raping and pillaging their way. From the Romans to the Greeks, the Babylonians to the Ottomans, Sidon really has seen all the world has to offer. Today there are just 200,000 inhabitants of the city, which is still one of the most ancient cities in the world.

Although we think of Athens as being the oldest city in Europe, many experts claim that Argos has a stronger claim to the title. It has a strong history of neutrality, famously refusing to take part in the Greco-Persian wars from 499-449 BC.

Both the Ottomans and the Romans laid claim to Plovdiv over the years, giving the city a rich history of the Ancient World. Not only is it one of the most beautiful cities in modern-day Bulgaria, Plovdiv is also the second-largest and is recognized around the world as one of the most important cultural cities in the modern EU.

To finish the list of the oldest cities in the world is Jericho, and with good reason. It is the earliest record we have of a walled city, giving its name famously to the story of Walls of Jericho in the Bible. It remained uninhabited for lengthy periods, but today there are around 20,000 permanent residents, attracting lots of foreign visitors who are interested in history.

A visit to any of the World’s oldest cities provides an amazing experience of times gone by and the contemporary. You can visit ruins of ancient civilizations as well as enjoy all the trappings of modern life. Are any of these incredible places on your wish list to visit?