The World's Oldest Cities
That are still inhabited today

Damascus, Syria

According to UNESCO, Damascus is one of the oldest cities in the Middle East. It was founded in the 3rd millennium BC. It served as a crossroads between Africa and Asia, and was therefore a cultural and commercial center.

Jericho, West Bank

Settlements in Jericho can be dated as far back as 9000 BC. The city is surrounded by a wall that is the oldest known defensive wall. It is known for its appearance in the bible at the battle of Jericho.

Aleppo, Syria

Aleppo was also known as a crossroads between several trade routes. It has survived the rule of the Ottomans, Mameluks, Mongols, Arabs, Assyrians, and Hittites.This city dates as far back as the 2nd millennium BC.

Athens, Greece

The city of Athens has become well-known for its acropolis, a fortified part of a Greek city, usually located on a hill. Some parts of the city were built in 7000 BC. Athens also produced the first form of democratic government.

Plovdiv, Bulgaria

Plovdiv was founded somewhere around 400 AD. There is a historical reserve in the city known as "Old Town," where people can come to look old structures like Hisar Kapia, Balabanov House, and the theater.

Byblos, Lebanon

Byblos was a Phoenician port city located on the Mediterranean Sea, and its real name was Gebal. It is thought to have been established as a city around 5000 BC. The city was known for trading papyrus, which is where it got its name.

  It is important to visit these places, or
  at   least      learn  about them, because 
  we need to know   and    understand where 
  we started, or else    we may    repeat 
   the   same  mistakes    again.

"The more you know about the past, the better prepared you are for the future."

Theodore Roosevelt

City	Country	Founded
Pompeii	Italy	700 BC
Xi'an	China	202 BC
Eridu	Iraq	5400 BC
Faiyum	Egypt	4000 BC
Gaziantep	Turkey	3650 BC
Mohenjo-Daro	Pakistan	2500 BC
Cholula	Mexico	200 BC
Varanasi	India	1000 BC

The World's Oldest Cities
That are still inhabited today

Damascus, Syria

According to UNESCO, Damascus is one of the oldest cities in the Middle East. It was founded in the 3rd millennium BC. It served as a crossroads between Africa and Asia, and was therefore a cultural and commercial center.

Jericho, West Bank

Settlements in Jericho can be dated as far back as 9000 BC. The city is surrounded by a wall that is the oldest known defensive wall. It is known for its appearance in the bible at the battle of Jericho.

Aleppo, Syria

Aleppo was also known as a crossroads between several trade routes. It has survived the rule of the Ottomans, Mameluks, Mongols, Arabs, Assyrians, and Hittites.This city dates as far back as the 2nd millennium BC.

Athens, Greece

The city of Athens has become well-known for its acropolis, a fortified part of a Greek city, usually located on a hill. Some parts of the city were built in 7000 BC. Athens also produced the first form of democratic government.

Plovdiv, Bulgaria

Plovdiv was founded somewhere around 400 AD. There is a historical reserve in the city known as "Old Town," where people can come to look old structures like Hisar Kapia, Balabanov House, and the theater.

Byblos, Lebanon

Byblos was a Phoenician port city located on the Mediterranean Sea, and its real name was Gebal. It is thought to have been established as a city around 5000 BC. The city was known for trading papyrus, which is where it got its name.

Here are some more ancient cities, though not all of them are still inhabited today.To learn more about continuously inhabited cities, click here.

Use `ctrl+p` to print this page.

The World's Oldest Cities That are still inhabited today

Damascus, Syria

According to UNESCO, Damascus is one of the oldest cities in the Middle East. It was founded in the 3rd millennium BC. It served as a crossroads between Africa and Asia, and was therefore a cultural and commercial center.

Jericho, West Bank

Settlements in Jericho can be dated as far back as 9000 BC. The city is surrounded by a wall that is the oldest known defensive wall. It is known for its appearance in the bible at the battle of Jericho.

Aleppo, Syria

Aleppo was also known as a crossroads between several trade routes. It has survived the rule of the Ottomans, Mameluks, Mongols, Arabs, Assyrians, and Hittites.This city dates as far back as the 2nd millennium BC.

Athens, Greece

The city of Athens has become well-known for its acropolis, a fortified part of a Greek city, usually located on a hill. Some parts of the city were built in 7000 BC. Athens also produced the first form of democratic government.

Plovdiv, Bulgaria

Plovdiv was founded somewhere around 400 AD. There is a historical reserve in the city known as "Old Town," where people can come to look old structures like Hisar Kapia, Balabanov House, and the theater.

Byblos, Lebanon

Byblos was a Phoenician port city located on the Mediterranean Sea, and its real name was Gebal. It is thought to have been established as a city around 5000 BC. The city was known for trading papyrus, which is where it got its name.

Here are some more ancient cities, though not all of them are still inhabited today.To learn more about continuously inhabited cities, click here.

Use ctrl+p to print this page.

The World's Oldest Cities
That are still inhabited today

Use `ctrl+p` to print this page.