Let’s peer through time and look at 13 of the wealthiest cities in history. We’ve all heard stories, read books and seen movies on some of the richest cities of time past. Even today with a lot of wealthy cities of the modern world, a lot of them can’t compare to the vast riches that cities in history have once possessed. Some of these cities were the centerpiece of their respective civilizations and were the envy of a lot of other places in the world. The wealth they acquired could be due to different means, like trading, conquest, and even exploration.
Wealth during the past times may also be different than our perspective of wealth today. Some cities in history measured the amount of property they had rather than currency. For others it was gold, silver, and treasures. Today we often see wealth and money in investments, real estate, and stocks. The Top 10 Richest Cities in the World may or may not be close to the wealth the cities on this list has. This is all depending on your perspective. Whether or not these cities are richer, one cannot doubt that the ones listed here have had a big impact during their time.
What cities do you think make it on this list? You might have heard of a lot of these cities before. Let’s learn more and go through this list of 13:
13. Angkor
Now more known as a tourist destination in Southeast Asia, Angkor was once the capital of the Khmer Empire and hosted a few of the most unique architectural sights in Southeast Asia. There are thousands of temples and monuments in the area that are dim reflections of a once glorious city.
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12. El Dorado
More known as a mythological place to explorers and conquerors of the time, El Dorado referred to a city that was abundant with gold. The closest association to the city would be the region of Columbia which was once a hub for metal works and was rich with gold.
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11. Cuzco
Cuzco was once the capital of the Incan empire. It represented modernization during ancient times. They had advanced architecture and technologies that were found nowhere else during that time. It is notable that a lot of people and cultures may have had an influence in the city due to some stark differences in architecture.
10. Tenochtitlan
When the Spanish discovered the ancient city that is now Mexico, it was filled with inhabitants and surpassed that of most European cities. The Mexica Empire was built on top of the water and had clever architecture and engineering that gave freshwater to people every day. The best comparison we have today is Venice.
9. Great Zimbabwe
Rubble and ruins are all that remains of this once great city in Africa. During ancient times the Great Zimbabwe was the trading hub for the entire region and had routes established up to China. They were also wealthy in gold as there was a gold mine nearby that supplied and flourished their city.
8. Damascus
Damascus is considered as the oldest inhabited city in the world. It was once a merchant and trading center and was held under two great empires in different times, the Romans and the Turks. The city itself still has a lot of old and ancient sites especially religious temples.
7. Xi’an
Considered as one of the four great ancient capitals of China, Xi’an was the start of the Silk Road, one of the most significant trading routes in China. The city is home to impressive craftsmanship and is where you’ll find the legendary terracotta army.
There are more wealthy cities of history that have not yet been mentioned. Let’s continue to list 13 of the wealthiest cities in history.
6. Cahokia
Once situated near the Mississippi River, Cahokia was the largest Native American city of its time. They city was well established way before Europeans had contact with any Native Americans in the land. The city was once an important trading and agricultural center.
5. Plovdiv
Located in what is known now as Bulgaria, Plovdiv was once one of the largest and most beautiful cities of the Roman Empire. What is left now are ancient ruins, though you’ll still find traces of its faded beauty here.
4. Babylon
A lot of references in the past point to the once great empire of Babylon. They had one of the strongest military forces in ancient times and were well advanced considering all of the other cities nearby. It had what was considered one of the greatest palaces ever built.
3. Athens
This city in Greece the origin of most of the advancements we know in the art, philosophy and the sciences. It has been continuously inhabited since, though it is far from its former glory.
2. Rome
The Roman Empire was one of the largest and strongest empires of its time and no city could compare with ancient Rome. Rome is often considered as the birthplace of Western civilization.
1. Constantinople
The capital of the once great Byzantine Empire, Constantinople thrived for centuries and was one of the wealthiest and most advanced cities of its time. It was even said to be the birthplace of the European Renaissance.
There you have it, 13 of the wealthiest cities in history. Maybe we can learn a few lessons from these once great cities.
