Cambridge began as a small river settlement, but over time grew to be a prosperous city. In 1284 the first college of what would become Cambridge University was founded. Today, Cambridge is considered one of England's premier cities for culture, arts and learning.

Roman Establishment
    The town of Cambridge began as a settlement on a hill that made a convenient crossing point of a large river. Romans built the first town on the river they called the Granta, and built a port, church and other buildings.

Anglo-Saxon Expansion
    The Anglo-Saxons expanded the settlement on what came to be known as Castle Hill, as it could be easily defended. They built St. Benedict's church nearby, today the oldest building in Cambridge. The Anglo-Saxon name for the city was Grantabrycge. Due to good trading links with Europe and a strong market, Cambridge prospered.

Norman Occupation
    The Normans conquered England in 1066 and built a castle on Castle Hill in 1068, though very little of it remains today. Around 1130, the Norman Knights Templar built the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (known today as the Round Church), one of four round Norman churches in England. By this time, the town was known as Grentebrige or Cantebrigge, which eventually became Cambridge. Soon, the river began to be called the Cam, to go along with the name of the town.

University of Cambridge
    In 1201 and 1207 King John granted charters to the town of Cambridge, ultimately leading to the establishment of Cambridge as an independent town. In 1209 a few Oxford students moved to Cambridge to escape hostile townspeople in Oxford. They began studying at a local priory, and their group formed the basis for the University of Cambridge. Small colleges developed one at time, beginning with Peterhouse in 1284. As the university grew, a violent rivalry broke out between the "town" (citizens of Cambridge) and the "gown" (students).

Expansion and Decline
    Under King Henry VIII control of the university was removed from Catholic leaders and a great deal of new building was undertaken, including the iconic Kings College. In 1584, Oxford University Press, the oldest printing and publishing house in the world, was founded. Between 1584 and 1800, however, there were no new colleges established; this was a time of decline for the university and the town. Then, in the late 1800s, several colleges were founded (including the first for women), and the town and university blossomed again.

Modern History
    In the early 1800s, development of Cambridge spread outside the loop of the river to the south and east. In 1845, the railway reached Cambridge. During World War I, many soldiers camped in Cambridge, and a large hospital was built that later became the university library. In 1951, King George VI granted Cambridge a charter, making it a city despite its lack of a cathedral, a traditional requirement for city status in England.