Turicum, from which the name Zurich comes, was originally a Roman customs post and fort on the left bank of the Limmat. The settlement later spread to both sides of the river.

During the Middle Ages it developed as an economic, cultural and religious centre. In the course of the 13th century it gradually gained more rights of self-government, although it remained part of the German empire.

In 1351 it joined the Swiss Confederation, where it quickly became one of the leading members, along with Bern and Lucerne.

It has traditionally been at the forefront of new developments: it led the Protestant forces at the Reformation in the 16th century, its liberal politicians played a key role in establishing the modern federal state in 1848, and its entrepreneurs were the backbone of the industrial revolution in Switzerland in the 19th century.


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Part or or all of this text stems from the original article at: http://www.swissworld.org