Origins
There is evidence that suggests that the Paris area has been inhabited since 4200 BC, however it was the Romans who permanently inhabited the area with their town "Lutetia Parisorum", the name from which Paris' name comes.
Important Events
- Paris and it's people suffered greatly when the black death struck in 1348 with as many as eight hundred people dying each day from the retched disease.
- In 1782, Paris was the center stage of the French Revolution against the hated monarchy with the storming of the Bastille and culminating in the ejection of the royal family in 1792.
- Paris survived both World Wars relatively unscathed, acting as a site for negotiations in the first. During WWII there were no strategic sites within the city limits so Paris was spared aerial bombardment.
- In 2007, a rejuvenation project known as "Greater Paris" was announced by the French president Nicolas Sarcozy, which hopes to improve the city's infrastructure dramatically.
Culture
For many, many years Paris has been praised as a center for art and culture, a trait evident due to its many museums and exhibits. Great artists such as Pablo Picasso and Ernest Hemingway have used Paris as a meeting point for discussions and artistic events. Paris also has a reputation for being the location of some of the greatest restaurants the world has to offer, all serving the finest of foods. This culinary aptitude is often accredited to the diverse roots of its people, bringing recipes from across the country.
