Here at Traverse des Economies, one might ponder what exactly makes this traverse so economical. Marseille’s story began long before euros or francs. Prepare to journey back through time.
The Traverse des Economies is located in a city with a rich tapestry of history. Marseille started as Massalia. It was a Greek colony founded around 600 BC. Greeks from Phocaea in modern Turkey established it. Massalia became a prominent Greek city in southern Gaul.
Massalia allied with the Roman Republic. This alliance occurred during the Second Punic War. They stood against Carthage from 218 to 201 BC. The city maintained its independence. It held onto its commercial empire throughout the Western Mediterranean. This lasted even as Rome expanded into Western Europe and North Africa.
However, Massalia’s independence ended after the Roman Siege of Massilia in 49 BC. This siege happened during Caesar’s Civil War. Massalia sided with the exiled faction against Julius Caesar.
Marseille continued to thrive as a Roman city. It became an early center of Christianity. The city remained a key maritime trading hub. This was true even after the Visigoths captured it in the 5th century AD.
The city declined after Charles Martel’s forces sacked it in 739 AD. It became part of the County of Provence in the 10th century. The Black Death in the 14th century and a sack by the Crown of Aragon in 1423 further hindered its prosperity.
The city’s fortunes revived. René of Anjou, Count of Provence, initiated ambitious building projects. He strengthened the city’s fortifications in the mid-15th century. In the 16th century, Marseille hosted a naval fleet. It was a joint Franco-Ottoman force. This alliance threatened Genoa and the Holy Roman Empire.
Marseille lost many residents during the Great Plague of 1720. However, the population recovered by mid-century. In 1792, the city became a focal point of the French Revolution. Marseille is the birthplace of France’s national anthem, La Marseillaise.
The Industrial Revolution and the French Empire’s establishment in the 19th century facilitated the city’s expansion. Nazi Germany captured and heavily damaged it during World War II. Since then, Marseille has become a major center for immigrant communities. Many come from former French colonies like French Algeria.
Today, Marseille is a vibrant city. It is a testament to its long and varied past. Though the Traverse des Economies may not whisper tales of ancient battles or royal decrees, remember that every street here is a silent witness to the ebb and flow of history. The spirit of Massalia endures. It lives on in the modern city of Marseille.