Archeological evidence indicates that a Pre-Gallic settlement existed here as far back as 12,000 years ago. Within fifty years of the Romans establishing Lugdunum, it had grown in size and importance as the administrative center of Gaul. Its location close to Germany made it strategically important for the Roman expansion into Germany over the following four centuries.
The very first amphitheater in all of Gaul - aka “The Amphitheater of the Three Gauls” (the first Latin I remembered learning was “Gallia est omnis divisa in parties tres “ meaning “ Gaul is a whole divided into three parts.”) - was constructed on the nearby Croix-Rousse hill in 19 A.D. With the construction of four aqueducts ,which brought water to the city during the 2nd century, Lugdunum prospered greatly. Since both the Rhône and Soane rivers were navigable, Lugdunum developed the largest concentration of wharves and warehouses in Gaul, as well as a customs service and a mint (including two banks). Trade made the city one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the Provence.
Later, internal power struggles led to war (i.e. the Battle of Lugdunum) between a number of factions within the city. As a result, Lugdunum never fully recovered from the war’s devastating effects. Its regional importance began to diminish; no longer maintaining its role as chief city and administrative capital of Gaul.
During the Middle-Ages, while under the Burgundian Kingdom (France, Italy, Switzerland), Lyon (as it was now known) was still an important urban center. Several Popes were crowned here. By 1312, Philip the Fair annexed the city into the “Kingdom of France,” making it a base for French Political Activities throughout the region.
The first print shop was established in Lyon during 1472, which helped to make the city one of the most important publishing centers in Europe. During the 1789 French Revolution, the city endured a two-month siege because of its close support of the monarchy. Two thousand of its citizens died as a result. The first Labor Litigation Court in France was established in Lyon during 1806 and the first cooperative grocery store began in 1835.
In modern times, Lyon’s silk processing industry became a dominant economic factor, with 312 silk factories existing by the end of the 19th century. During World War II, Lyon was not only a center of Nazi occupation, but also of French Resistance. Today, Lyon is one of the most popular tourist destinations (with 3.5 million visitors per year) in France and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.