Even kids know who Christopher Columbus is, but what place on the map is considered the birthplace of this Spanish navigator remains a mystery. But not for the inhabitants of one of the Italian cities, the history of Genoa keeps this happy page in its book of memory.
Today it is the largest seaport on the shores of the Gulf of Genoa, and in antiquity - a tiny settlement of Ligurs, which quickly passed under the influence of the Romans, together with them experienced many tragic and bright events.
The first inhabitants of these lands were the Greeks, archaeologists discovered their small settlement. In general, several important stages can be distinguished in the history of Genoa:
- the early period, beginning with the founding of a Greek settlement;
- Republic of Genoa (the time of the highest prosperity of the region);
- as part of the state of Italy.
Start
The first were the ancient Greeks, then the Ligurs, who supported the Romans during the Punic Wars. The troops of Carthage destroyed their settlement, this happened in 209 BC.
With the fall of the Roman Empire, a relatively calm period ended, this territory was in the center of attention of aggressors from different countries and associations. In the history of Genoa, in short, left traces of the Ostrogoths, Byzantines, Franks. In the 10th century, the city turns into a fortified port, trade and cultural ties are established with different countries and continents.
Independent city-state
Genoa gained independence by the beginning of the 12th century, while formally it was subject to the Roman Empire. A feature of the politics of that time in the city was that several of the most influential families ruled everything, balancing each other.
At the same time, the settlement resembled a trading company rather than a city, since everything was tied to buying and selling. In addition, in terms of wealth, Genoa left many European states far behind. From the middle of the 14th century, a period of decline begins, which reached its climax by the 18th century.
Genoa in the period of the XIX-XXI centuries
The weakened Republic of Genoa finally lost its influence in Europe and the world, sold all its colonies, the last one to leave was the island of Corsica, which became French.
Napoleon first, in 1797, made the republic a French protectorate, later, in general, a part of France. During the Congress of Vienna, a decision was made to annex Genoa to Piedmont. It was the best seaport on the territory of the Kingdom of Sardinia, and further development took place in this direction. By the beginning of the twentieth century, Genoa is a city that is ready to compete with the largest ports in Europe.
