Nice, or Nice La Bello (Nice the beautiful), is a city on the east coast of France, and is its fifth most populous. The earliest signs of humanity there are from 230,000 years ago, but this is evidenced by archaeology, and it was not until 350BC that human life was documented there. This was the Greeks of Massilia, who made it theirs and dubbed it Nikaia in honour of their victory over the nearby Ligurians.
In the 7th century Nice became a part of the Genoese league along with the other towns of Liguria. In the following few hundred years Nice was raided by the Saracens several times who took control of it for most of the 10th century. Throughout the Middle Ages Nice was embroiled in the wars and politics that form the history of Italy. Originally an ally of Pisa, and therefore an enemy of Genoa, the King of France and the Emperor were set on dominating Nice.
Between 1388 and 1860 Nice was heavily involved with the history of Savoy. The city changed hands quite a few times before France was awarded it as a present of thanks for its help in the Second Italian War of Independence against Austria. There was a movement in Italy at the time, however, called the irredentism movement, and they opposed this move because they saw ownership of the city as a national goal for Italy. Nice became part of France in 1861 and it has stayed that way.
In the turn of the century, the relatively new addition to French territory improved drastically, both in technology and transportation. A salient example of this was the electrifying of the Tramway de Nice. September 1939, however, saw the beginning of war in Europe, and Nice became a place where the oppressed people of Eastern Europe, mostly Jews, would come for refuge. Even this city did not provide any respite, however, when the Vichy Regime began.
Finally, on the 30 August 1944 American Paratroopers landed in the city and liberated it. The war took a heavy toll on Nice, as the population shrank 15% and the economy crumbled. In the period of recovery following the war, however, the economy boomed because of reconstruction and tourism.
In the 7th century Nice became a part of the Genoese league along with the other towns of Liguria. In the following few hundred years Nice was raided by the Saracens several times who took control of it for most of the 10th century. Throughout the Middle Ages Nice was embroiled in the wars and politics that form the history of Italy. Originally an ally of Pisa, and therefore an enemy of Genoa, the King of France and the Emperor were set on dominating Nice.
Between 1388 and 1860 Nice was heavily involved with the history of Savoy. The city changed hands quite a few times before France was awarded it as a present of thanks for its help in the Second Italian War of Independence against Austria. There was a movement in Italy at the time, however, called the irredentism movement, and they opposed this move because they saw ownership of the city as a national goal for Italy. Nice became part of France in 1861 and it has stayed that way.
In the turn of the century, the relatively new addition to French territory improved drastically, both in technology and transportation. A salient example of this was the electrifying of the Tramway de Nice. September 1939, however, saw the beginning of war in Europe, and Nice became a place where the oppressed people of Eastern Europe, mostly Jews, would come for refuge. Even this city did not provide any respite, however, when the Vichy Regime began.
Finally, on the 30 August 1944 American Paratroopers landed in the city and liberated it. The war took a heavy toll on Nice, as the population shrank 15% and the economy crumbled. In the period of recovery following the war, however, the economy boomed because of reconstruction and tourism.
No comments:
Post a Comment