When did London begin to grow?

The city of London has a long and rich history, dating back to Roman times. The first inhabitants of London were the Celtic tribe called the Iceni, who lived in the area around modern-day Holborn. In 43 AD, the Romans invaded Britain and established a settlement in London, which they called Londinium. Londinium quickly grew into a major trade and commercial center, and it became the capital of Roman Britain in the 1st century AD.

After the Romans withdrew from Britain in the 5th century, London was abandoned for a time. However, it was soon reestablished as a trading center by the Anglo-Saxons. In the 7th century, London was made the capital of the Kingdom of Essex. In the 9th century, it was captured by the Danes and became the capital of the Danelaw.

London continued to grow and prosper under the Norman kings. In the 11th century, the Tower of London was built, and the city became the seat of the English monarchy. In the 12th century, the city walls were built, and the population of London reached 100,000.

In the 13th century, London became the center of the wool trade, and the city's economy flourished. In the 14th century, the Black Death killed an estimated 50% of the city's population. However, London quickly recovered, and it continued to grow and prosper.

In the 15th century, London became a center of learning and scholarship. The city's first printing press was established in the 1470s, and the city's first university, Oxford, was founded in the 12th century.

In the 16th century, London's population reached 200,000. The city became a center of exploration, and many of the city's most famous landmarks were built during this period, including St. Paul's Cathedral and the Globe Theatre.

In the 17th century, London was the scene of the Great Fire of London, which destroyed much of the city. However, the city was quickly rebuilt, and it continued to grow and prosper. In the 18th century, London's population reached 1 million, and the city became the largest in Europe.

In the 19th century, London's economy continued to grow, and the city became the center of the British Empire. In the 20th century, London was bombed during World War II, but the city quickly recovered and it continues to grow and prosper today.