Charter Cities Atlas

Charter Cities Atlas Sharing the stories of historical self-governing cities from all over the world. An immersive project from and

Europa’s brothers were sent to find and rescue her.In their search, one of them discovered the Cicilia island, in nowada...
07/10/2022

Europa’s brothers were sent to find and rescue her.

In their search, one of them discovered the Cicilia island, in nowadays Turkey;
The other discovered the island of Thassos, in Greece;
One of them discovered a region in Africa;
The youngest one was sent to north of Athens, founding the city of Thebes. All of them became kings and ruled the cities.

This myth's influence on the ancient Greeks was so significant that they named the continent after her.

The first recorded usage of Europe as a geographic term is in Homer’s Hymn to Delian Apollo in reference to the western shore of the Aegean Sea.

Europe's name comes from the Greek words “eurus” (wide) and “ops” (eye or face) but it is unknown if they named the region after the facial characteristics of its inhabitants.

Tap the link in our bio to read the full chapter on Athens’ culture, history, and governance.

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It is believed that he came with the name “Europe” because of the Greek myth of the abduction of the princess Europa.Eur...
07/10/2022

It is believed that he came with the name “Europe” because of the Greek myth of the abduction of the princess Europa.

Europa was a really beautiful princess from the region where is nowadays Lebanon.
Zeus fell in love with her and transformed himself into a white bull, to get close to her.
He managed to abduct the princess and go to Crete, where she gave birth to the king Minos and other 2 children.

Every 9 years, Minos forced the king Aegeus, king of Attica and Athens, to send seven Athenian girls and boys to be eaten by the Minotaur inside the labyrinth.

Tap the link in our bio to read the full chapter on Athens’ culture, history, and governance.

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From Iberia, all the way to Slavia, up to Scandinavia and down to the Caucasus, there are many countries that consider t...
07/10/2022

From Iberia, all the way to Slavia, up to Scandinavia and down to the Caucasus, there are many countries that consider themselves as European, but where does the name Europe comes from?

Greece is the origin of uncountable terms, names and words, including the region we know as Europe.

Ptolemy, a Greek-Egyptian mathematician and geographer from the 2nd century CE, created a map for the known-world and divided it into three parts: Europe, Asia and Libya (north Africa).

This map became very famous and was used across the continents, spreading Europe’s name.

Tap the link in our bio to read the full chapter on Athens’ culture, history, and governance.

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Canton or Guangzhou, which one is correct?Both are correct! It is just a matter of from which part of the world you are....
11/07/2022

Canton or Guangzhou, which one is correct?

Both are correct! It is just a matter of from which part of the world you are.

"Canton" is a Portuguese or French romanization of the word "Guangdong", the province where the city is located.
As they were the first Europeans to arrive in the region, this is how the city came to be known in most European countries.

"Guangzhou" is the Cantonese and official name of the city in China.

Are you interested in learning more about Canton?
Visit our Atlas dedicated to the self-governing cities that shaped our history:
https://www.chartercitiesatlas.com/canton

The Ayutthayan kingdom lasted more than 400 years. It was founded by U Thong in 1350, and prevailed until 1767.Ayutthaya...
01/06/2022

The Ayutthayan kingdom lasted more than 400 years. It was founded by U Thong in 1350, and prevailed until 1767.

Ayutthaya is the successor of the second of four Thai kingdoms, which reigned from 1350–1767. The region prospered with the rise of the city of Ayutthaya, which began as a city-state—growing until it became a proud kingdom in its own right, learning many lessons in governance, resistance, and trade as it grew.

At first, the small city-kingdom of Ayutthaya was under the rule of the powerful Khmer empire. However, within less than a century, Thai king succeeded in pushing them back, and in 1431 they conquered their great capital of Angkor, gaining independence over the Khmer empire, which is nowadays Cambodia.

Wars against neighboring powers continued throughout the Ayutthayan period. In 1438, the Sukhothai empire was made a province of Ayutthaya, under the mandala political system.

During the Ayutthayan period, the Thai people gained the position as the leading power in what is now central and north-central Thailand, as well as throughout much of its southern peninsular region.

Ayutthaya was called by its neighbors as “Siam”, and the people of Ayutthaya came to be known as the Siamese.

Learn more about Ayutthaya’s culture, history, and governance in our Atlas:
https://www.chartercitiesatlas.com/ayutthaya

It wasn’t just the Portuguese and English that were interested in the Persian’ trade routes, the Dutch were also really ...
26/05/2022

It wasn’t just the Portuguese and English that were interested in the Persian’ trade routes, the Dutch were also really active in the region, mostly through the Dutch East India Company.

🖼Oil on canvas, The Dutch Ambassador on his Way to Isfahan, Jan Baptist Weenix, 1653 - 1659.

Despite new connections, Bandar Abbas’ fortunes continued to slowly decline.The Omani Empire weakened as Persia recupera...
24/05/2022

Despite new connections, Bandar Abbas’ fortunes continued to slowly decline.

The Omani Empire weakened as Persia recuperated, and in 1868 Persia was able to force an end to the lease and regain control of its possessions along the southwestern Persian coast, including Bandar Abbas.

Persia regaining control over the city, however, would not herald a new era of trade. Instead, the city would continue to languish as a backwater for another century.

Learn more about the history of Bandar Abbas in our Atlas:
https://www.chartercitiesatlas.com/bandar-abbas

Bandar Abbas grew up in a world that was still slowly leaving behind the Silk Road and discovering new trade routes.At t...
17/05/2022

Bandar Abbas grew up in a world that was still slowly leaving behind the Silk Road and discovering new trade routes.

At the time, European markets, fueled by wealth from the New World, remained eager for Persian products as silks, carpets, and jewelry.

Illuminated manuscripts were also very popular within Islamic trade. International trade in Persia was mainly conducted through Armenian and Persian merchants, who carried Persian goods to European and Asian markets.

One of the main commerce routes towards Bandar Abbas depended on the Latidan Bridge. The bridge was close to 1,500 meters and was built by the Shah Abbas I during the war with the Portuguese for military purposes.

After the war, producers transformed it into an important merchant corridor that connected them to one of the most important ports in the region, Bandar Abbas.

Learn more about the city of Bandar Abbas in our Atlas:
https://www.chartercitiesatlas.com/bandar-abbas

When the Persians regained control over Bandar Abbas from the Portuguese, it would not last, with the leadership of the ...
06/05/2022

When the Persians regained control over Bandar Abbas from the Portuguese, it would not last, with the leadership of the city changing several times between the Persian, Omani, and British Empires. Though the city changed rulers, its culture remained Persian.

Comparatively small in population against the larger trading cities, Bandar Abbas had a cosmopolitan nature and is said to have had English, Dutch, Danish, Portuguese, Armenian, Georgian, Muscovite, Turkish, Arab, Indian, and Jewish merchants.

Learn more about the city of Bandar Abbas in our Atlas:
https://www.chartercitiesatlas.com/bandar-abbas

Shah Abbas I was responsible for increasing commerce between Persia and Europe, selling mainly fine Persian rugs, silk, ...
05/05/2022

Shah Abbas I was responsible for increasing commerce between Persia and Europe, selling mainly fine Persian rugs, silk, and textiles such as brocades and damasks of unparalleled richness.

Persian art and architecture flourished during his dynasty. As one of the most significant dynasties of Iran, his rule marks a peak of Persian artistic achievement.

He was responsible for the construction of the stunning Shah Mosque and the Ali Qapur, which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites and regarded as masterpieces of Persian architecture in the Islamic era.

Bandar Abbas, as one of the busiest ports in the region, followed suit under Abbas’ rule, having great architectural and artistic development. The city was known for its handicrafts, local art, and the textile industry. The city was vital for exporting Persian art to Europe and other regions.

Learn more about the city of Bandar Abbas in our Atlas:
https://www.chartercitiesatlas.com

Before becoming a prosperous city-state, Venice was a small village with only a few houses for fishermen and salt worker...
19/04/2022

Before becoming a prosperous city-state, Venice was a small village with only a few houses for fishermen and salt workers.
However, the city eventually emerged as an independent political entity as the power of the Byzantine Empire, that controlled the city, waned.

The Serenìsima Repùblica Vèneta, also known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice, had primarily as main political entities the freeman’s assembly or Concio, from which the Doge was elected, the Great Council and the Doge himself.

The Commune of Venice, as their government was named after 1143, was a system of legislative and executive assemblies.
Its main entities were the electoral assembly or Great Council, the advisory assembly or Minor Council, the Supreme Court or Quarantia, and the Venetian Senate. Which was separated from the representative power, the Doge.

The Doge was elected for life by members of the Great Council of Venice, regulated by the Minor Council, and had to live in the Palazzo Ducale.

The Republic of Venice strove to control the Doge’s powers, to not fall in hands of a dictator.
That’s one of the reasons why they became a republic, where the government power is shared between many assemblies and institutions.

They forced every new Doge to sign the “Promissione Ducale”, a document including an oath of allegiance to the Republic of Venice and the constitutional limitations to the Doge's power, as soon as he was elected.

The venetians did not want to be governed by someone that would interfere or wouldn’t benefit their financial interests.

🖼 The Great Council in a voting session in the Doge's Palace, 1648/50 by Joseph Heintz the Younger.

Art history enthusiasts, you’re going to want to stop scrolling.This is reportedly the oldest known city view of Venice,...
01/04/2022

Art history enthusiasts, you’re going to want to stop scrolling.

This is reportedly the oldest known city view of Venice, dating back to the 14th century. In 2019, the drawing was discovered by Dr. Sandra Toffolo, a University of St. Andrews researcher, who realized that it predates all previously known views of the city besides maps and portolan charts.

The image is part of a manuscript containing the travel account of Niccolò da Poggibonsi, an Italian pilgrim who travelled to Jerusalem in 1346-1350. During his pilgrimage, Niccolò passed through Venice and his description of the city is accompanied by this pen drawing of Venice.

Learn more about the history of Venice in our Atlas:
https://www.chartercitiesatlas.com

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