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Which Is the Oldest Continuously Inhabited City?

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Quick Answer

Damascus, Syria, has been continuously inhabited for over 10,000 years.

The Full Story

Damascus, the capital of Syria, is widely regarded as the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world, with evidence of settlement dating back to at least 10,000–8,000 BC. Jericho in the Palestinian Territories and Aleppo in Syria are also strong contenders, with similarly ancient roots. Athens, Byblos (Lebanon), and Varanasi (India) are other frequently cited ancient cities. What makes Damascus exceptional is the unbroken continuity of urban life — it served as a capital for the Umayyad Caliphate in the 7th century and remains Syria's capital today.

Key Facts

1.The Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, built in AD 715, is one of the oldest and largest mosques in the world.
2.Jericho has walls dating to about 8000 BC, among the earliest urban fortifications ever discovered.
3.Damascus appears in Egyptian records from the 15th century BC.

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Suggested video title for this topic:

"Damascus — 10,000 Years of Continuous Civilisation"

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