History
The history of Lyon, known at the time as Lugdunum (meaning "the hill of light" or "the hill of crows") began under the Romans, in the first century B.C. when the city was proclaimed capital of the three Gauls. This official status brought political, economic, military and religious development to the city. This period of pre-eminence lasted 3 centuries but did not survive the downfall of the Roman Empire. A long period of upheaval possessed the city until the church gave it new impetus by declaring Lyon the seat of the Primate of Gaul in the 11th century.
From that time, prosperity continued to grow, reaching its peak in the Renaissance. By the end of the 15th century, Lyon was an important center of trade with its fairs and a well-developed banking system which attracted commercial interests from all over Europe. Soon, the social, intellectual and artistic elite settled here. Development continued through the 17th and 18th centuries with the Lyon silk industry supplying the world's wealthy with clothing and interior decoration. The city continued to gain in size and equipped itself with hospitals, public squares and impressive edifices.
