Jericho (Palestinian Territories) is widely considered the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world, with evidence of settlement dating back over 11,000 years to around 9000 BCE, and was recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage site in 2023, noting it as the "oldest fortified city in the world". Damascus (Syria) and Byblos (Lebanon) are other top contenders, often cited with similar ancient origins (around 10,000-8000 BCE) and continuous habitation.
Damascus, Syria, founded in 3000 B.C.E., is considered the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world. Jericho, West Bank, Palestine, dating back around 11,000 years, is one of the oldest cities with evidence of 23 layers of ancient sites.
The 10 oldest cities in the world: 1) Sana'a al-Umma, 12,200 years old 2) Jericho 10,600 years old 3) Damascus 9200 years old 4) Alexandria 7900 years old 5) Latakia 7300 years old 6) Samarra 6500 years old 7) Aden 5500 years old 😎 Khorasan 4800 years old 9) Raqqa 4000 years old 10) Aleppo 3500 years old •Source: ...
Dating back to around 3200 BC, the world's first city was Uruk, located in southern Mesopotamia (modern Iraq). Home to some 50,000 inhabitants, it was the largest settlement of its time, covering 450 hectares (1,112 acres) and encircled by a 9.5-km (5.9-mile) city wall.
Damascus, the capital of Syria, is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, with evidence of settlement dating back as far as 8,000 to 10,000 BC. This means the city could be as old as 12,000 years.
Aram (region) Aram (Imperial Aramaic: 𐡀𐡓𐡌, romanized: ʾĀrām; Hebrew: אֲרָם, romanized: ʾĂrām; Syriac: ܐܪܡ) was a historical region mentioned in early cuneiforms and in the Bible. The area did not develop into a larger empire but consisted of several small states in present-day Syria.
The old city of Damascus is considered to be among the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world. Excavations at Tell Ramad on the outskirts of the city have demonstrated that Damascus was inhabited as early as 8,000 to 10,000 BC.
Çatalhöyük: The World's First City. Çatalhöyük is a city founded 9,000 years ago, and this UNESCO World Heritage Site is well-worth visiting to see the remains of an ancient (like, REALLY ancient) city.
Chicago is called the “Second City” due to a combination of historical and cultural factors, primarily stemming from its rivalry with New York City and the name of a book by A.J. Liebling, who coined the term in the 1950s.
Ancient History: This period covers the earliest human civilisations, from the start of recorded history to the end of major classical empires. Medieval History: This is the era between the ancient and modern periods, often called the 'middle ages.
The earliest occupation of the site was around 8,000 BC, as shown by excavations in Tallet Alsauda. Aleppo appears in historical records as an important city much earlier than Damascus.
Perth, the world's longest city, stretches relentlessly along the western edge of Australia.
San Marino
This tiny nation on the Italian peninsula holds the Guinness World Record for the oldest existing republic in the world. With a total area of just 24 square miles (62.2 square kilometers), San Marino is one of the smallest countries in the world but has managed to hang onto its independence for centuries.
10 oldest cities in the world
Discover the oldest city in the world, which dates back 11,000 years. Jericho is a portal to the beginning of human civilisation. Here, we delve into the history of the world's oldest city, Jericho, which is located in the Jordan Valley on the coast of the Dead Sea.
Damascus is the capital and largest city of Syria. It is the oldest capital city in the world.
U.S. National Ratings. According to the Mid 2025 GCIM, New York is currently the most important U.S. city—followed by Washington, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.
If the question is “What is the first city in the world?”, the answer leads you back to Uruk.
Luxembourg, Djibouti, Qatar, Brunei, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Malta are each politically and economically centered on a single city; in the cases of Luxembourg, Djibouti and Kuwait, this primate city is so dominant as to give its name to the country.
According to Seasia Stats, the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world is Jericho, Palestine, which dates back to around 9000 BCE.
Uruk: The First City. By around 3200 B.C., the largest settlement in southern Mesopotamia, if not the world, was Uruk: a true city dominated by monumental mud-brick buildings decorated with mosaics of painted clay cones embedded in the walls, and extraordinary works of art.
According to Josephus, Damascus was founded by Uz grandson of Shem. It is first mentioned in Scripture in connection with Abraham, ( Genesis 14:15 ) whose steward was a native of the place. ( Genesis 15:2 ) At one time david became complete master of the whole territory, which he garrisoned with israelites.
Damascus steel originally referred to swords made from wootz, a high-carbon steel created about two thousand years ago. The blades were regarded for their strength, flexibility, and ability to retain a keen edge, as well as the distinct water-like pattern of the metal.
Damascus is referred to as Sham, but only by Syrians, frequently by Lebanese or Palestinian people, and sometimes but very rarely other Arabs. Other Arabs say "Shami" to refer to anyone from the Levant. "Sham" means Levant to them.