Lisbon city is one of Europe’s most charming and amazing cities and it is also one of the continents most significant cities in history. This particular city is located at a very strategic place which is near the mouth of a river known as the Tegus river. This city has been known through out history as the official international gateway to the European western arm. All the cities have their ups and downs and Lisbon is no exception. The city has suffered quite a lot but it has also prospered. In history, it is said that this city was founded by a Greek hero by the name Oddysseus when he was on his journey from a city known as Troy which was his home city. It is also said that he named the city Olissipo but there is no evidence of this naming in the history books. The city’s history records show that this city was discovered and established by Phoenicians as a trading post in Europe. The evidence that proves this dates back from the year 1200BC which is a very long time ago. After some years, the city became an important port that was used by the Romans.
By the time that Julius Caesar became the Roman leader, the city of Lisbon was already well established and it was thriving as a trade and shipping center. After some years, the city of Lisbon slid into a sudden decline because it was invaded by North African Moors at about the year 711AD. The incursions of the North African Moors lasted for many years into the 12th century. The impact of the invasion of the Moors in Lisbon and Portugal can be clearly seen in the fortresses and turrets of Castelo Sao Jorge which is a huge castle that dominates the skyline of the down town area of Lisbon city. The first king of Portugal who was known as Afonso Henriques put together his military forces with the help of an English crusader who was known as Gilbert of Hastings and went to fight and evict the Moors from the city so as to regain Christian control. The English crusader later went on to become the first bishop of the city of Lisbon after helping in the eviction of the Moors. The first saint of Portugal was killed in the battle and his remains were brought back to the country and laid to rest in the newly built Cathedral which is known as The Se.
After the Moors were evicted from the region, the city started to prosper again and it founded its first university in the year 1290 which was a very big development for the city in Europe. The city’s security was also strengthened so that no other groups would come to invade their land again. The security in Lisbon city was unrivaled in the whole European region. During the 14th and 15th centuries, there was an outbreak of grain riots and civil unrests which played a big part in pulling back an economy which would have been a powerful trading economy in the region. The region again started to prosper with the age of discovery when the famous Vasco De Gama set out to discover the first ever sea route to India. The discovery of the sea route led to the city having unrivaled wealth and trading centers for as long as a hundred years. Most of the famous landmarks in this city were developed during this time which include the Monastero dos Jeronimos and the Torre de Belem. The city of Lisbon has a rich history with a lot of theories that have never been proven and its rich history makes one of the most recognized cities in the whole of Europe.