The most common questions about Culture & History of Travel Destinations — answered briefly and directly.
Damascus is considered the oldest continuously inhabited capital in the world, with a history of settlement spanning over 5,000 years. The old town is a UNESCO World Heritage site. More about this: Damascus.
More questions & answers
Yes, Islam is the state religion of Malaysia, but the constitution guarantees freedom of religion for all citizens. Mosques, Buddhist temples, Hindu shrines, and Christian churches are often located just a few streets apart. More about this: Society in Malaysia.
On December 2, 1971, Dubai and five other emirates united to form the United Arab Emirates, with Ras Al Khaimah joining on February 10, 1972. Prior to this, they were known as the Trucial States under British protection. More about this: History of Dubai.
The Inca Empire Tawantinsuyu existed from 1438 to 1533. In less than 100 years, it extended over 4,000 kilometers from its capital Cusco, reaching from Colombia to Chile and encompassing 12 million people. More about this: Peru: Land & People.
The Inca Empire Tawantinsuyu existed from 1438 to 1533 and was the largest empire ever seen in South America. It extended over 4,000 kilometers from its capital Cusco, reaching from Colombia to Chile. More about this: Land and People in Peru.
The Viking Age in Norway lasted from 793, marked by the raid on Lindisfarne Monastery, until 1066, the Battle of Stamford Bridge. More about this: History of Norway.
The Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921 granted independence to 26 Irish counties. This followed the War of Independence from 1919 to 1921, in which the IRA under Michael Collins fought against the British. More about this: History of Ireland.
Iceland was settled starting in 874 AD when the Norwegian Viking Ingólfur Arnarson landed on the southern coast. It is believed that Irish monks lived there as hermits as early as the 8th century. More about this: Land & People in Iceland.
The Kingdom of Portugal was founded in 1143 in Guimarães, in the Minho region, which is considered the cradle of the Portuguese nation. More about this: Overview of Minho.
The Republic of Turkey was founded on October 29, 1923, by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, following World War I and the Greco-Turkish War. More about this: History of Turkey.
Typically Danish is Hygge, the conscious enjoyment of coziness, warmth, and security. For the Danes, Hygge is a philosophy of life that shapes their everyday existence. More about this: Culture in Denmark.
Typically Danish is Hygge, the untranslatable word for coziness, warmth, security, and the conscious enjoyment of the moment. Hygge is a philosophy of life that shapes the entire Danish daily life. More about this: Culture in Denmark.
Alexandria was founded in 331 BC by Alexander the Great and was home to the legendary library and the Lighthouse of Pharos. Today, it is a city with 5.3 million inhabitants on the Mediterranean. More about this: Overview of Alexandria.
The Copts are the Christian minority in Egypt, making up about 10% of the population or 10 to 12 million people. They trace their Coptic Orthodox Church back to the evangelist Mark, and it has its own pope based in Cairo. More about this: Society in Egypt.
Cuba has produced many music and dance styles: Son, Salsa, Rumba, Cha-Cha-Chá, Mambo, Bolero, Timba, and Reggaeton all have their roots here. More about this: Culture in Havana.
The Indian caste system recognizes four traditional Varnas (classes), including Brahmins (priests and scholars), Kshatriyas (warriors and rulers), and Vaishyas (merchants and farmers). It was officially abolished in 1950 but remains deeply rooted in society. More about this: India: Society.
India is the birthplace of four major world religions. About 80% of Indians are Hindus, while around 14% are Muslims, which amounts to over 200 million people. More about this: Society in India.
The southern part of the island is Greek-influenced, where Cypriot Greek is spoken. Northern Cyprus (37% of the island's area) has been a de facto separate state since the Turkish invasion in 1974, recognized only by Turkey, while the EU considers the entire island to belong to the Republic of Cyprus. More about this: Cyprus: Northern Cyprus.
Iceland is an independent state: On June 17, 1944, Iceland declared independence from Denmark in Þingvellir, with 98.5% voting in favor in a referendum. This date is Iceland's National Day. More about this: Iceland Land and People.
The Sultanate of Malacca was founded around 1400 by the Hindu prince Parameswara, who fled from Sumatra. Under Sultan Mansur Shah (1458–1477), Malacca became one of the world's most important ports. More about this: History of Malaysia.
The first European to reach New Zealand was the Dutch explorer Abel Tasman in 1642, but he was attacked by Māori warriors and never set foot on land. He named it 'Nieuw Zeeland' after the province of Zeeland. More about this: History of New Zealand.
The founder of modern Turkey is Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (1881 to 1938). He proclaimed the Republic on October 29, 1923, and implemented reforms such as the separation of state and religion and the adoption of the Latin alphabet in 1928. More about this: History of Turkey.
The Incas created the largest empire in South America, Tawantinsuyu, between 1438 and 1533, with the capital Cusco. It stretched over 4,000 kilometers from Colombia to Chile, included around 12 million people, and was connected by a 40,000-kilometer road network. More about this: Land & People in Peru.
The Picts were the original inhabitants of Scotland north of the Forth, known for their intricate, never fully deciphered stone symbols. Around 843, Kenneth MacAlpin united the Picts and the Gaelic Scots into the Kingdom of Alba, the precursor to Scotland. More about this: Scotland: History.
Barcelona was founded around 15 BC by Emperor Augustus as the Roman colony Barcino, and the Roman city walls are still visible in the Barri Gòtic today. More about this: History of Barcelona.
Damascus is considered the oldest continuously inhabited capital in the world and has been settled for over 5,000 years. The old town with souks, caravanserais, and Roman arches is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. More about this: Overview of Damascus.
The Republic of Turkey was founded on October 29, 1923, by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Before that, the area belonged to the Ottoman Empire, which lasted over 600 years. More about this: Turkey: History.
Italy emerged in the 19th century through the Risorgimento, the national unification movement led by Garibaldi, Mazzini, and Cavour. The Kingdom of Italy was proclaimed in 1861, and Rome was added as the last city in 1870. More about this: History of Italy.
The modern Republic of Turkey was founded by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk on October 29, 1923, after World War I and the Greco-Turkish War (1919–1922). More about this: History of Turkey.
Königsberg is now called Kaliningrad. The Russian exclave on the Baltic Sea between Poland and Lithuania was the capital of East Prussia for over 700 years and became Soviet in 1945. More about this: Overview of Kaliningrad.
From 1884, the area of present-day Namibia was called German South-West Africa, and German colonial rule lasted about 30 years. German is still one of the national languages of Namibia today. More about this: History of Namibia.
Before the founding of the Republic of Turkey on October 29, 1923, by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the country belonged to the Ottoman Empire, which lasted over 600 years and conquered Constantinople in 1453. More about this: History of Turkey.
Dubai evolved from a fishing village to a regional trading port and then to a global metropolis. The significant transformation was shaped by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum: the Burj Al Arab opened in 1999, construction of the Palm Jumeirah began in 2001, and in 2004 Emirates became the largest international airline in the world. More about this: History of Dubai.
Canada emerged from the struggle between France and Great Britain for North America and gradually gained independence without war. In 1931, it received de facto independence with the Statute of Westminster, in 1965 it adopted its own flag, and in 1982 it obtained a fully independent constitution. More about this: History of Canada.
Modern Singapore was established in 1819: On January 29, Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles landed for the British East India Company on the island, signed a treaty with the local sultan, and made Singapore a British free trade port. More about this: History of Singapore.
Namibia was a German colony for about 30 years: In 1884, Chancellor Bismarck placed the area under German protection as German South-West Africa. More about this: History of Namibia.
Vincent van Gogh was born in 1853 in Zundert in the province of Noord-Brabant in the Netherlands. He only began painting at the age of 27 and created over 2,100 works in just 10 years. More about this: Netherlands: Art.
'The Lord of the Rings' and 'The Hobbit' were filmed in New Zealand, at over 150 locations across the country. Peter Jackson's films have made New Zealand world-renowned as 'Middle-earth.' More about this: New Zealand: Nature.
Bachata comes from the Dominican Republic: The style originated in the 1960s in the bars of the lower class and was initially considered 'music of the poor.' The lyrics deal with lost love, longing, and heartache. More about this: Dominican Republic: Culture.
Bollywood is India's film industry based in Mumbai, and the name combines Bombay, the old name of Mumbai, with Hollywood. With over 1,500 films produced each year, it is the largest in the world by the number of productions. More about this: Society in India.
Our FAQ section covers many more travel topics.
