Where did Paris first start?

Paris originated as a small settlement on the Île de la Cité, a natural island in the River Seine. Archaeological evidence suggests that human activity in the area dates back to the Neolithic period, around 4,000 BC. The first traces of permanent settlement appear during the Iron Age, around 250 BC, when a Celtic tribe known as the Parisii established a fortified settlement on the island. It was called Lutetia Parisiorum. Paris thus derived its name from this tribe.

In 52 BC, the Roman Empire conquered the region and renamed the settlement to "Lutetia". The Romans built a city around the island and connected it to the mainland with bridges. Lutetia became a prosperous trading center and an important administrative center for the Roman province of Gaul.

After the fall of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century AD, Lutetia came under the control of the Franks, a Germanic tribe. The city was renamed "Paris" and became the capital of the Frankish Kingdom, which eventually became the Kingdom of France.

Throughout the Middle Ages, Paris grew in size and importance. The city became a center of learning and culture, and many of its iconic landmarks, such as the Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Louvre Museum, were built during this period.

By the 18th century, Paris had become one of the most important cities in Europe and a global center for art, literature, and philosophy. The city played a pivotal role in the French Revolution of 1789 and continued to be a major political and cultural center throughout the 19th and 20th centuries.