History of Milan

Milan is an ancient city in northern Italy first settled under the name Medhelanon in about 400 BC^[1] by a Celtic tribe belonging to the Insubres group and belonging to the Golasecca culture.^[2][3] It was conquered by the ancient Romans in 222 BC, who latinized the name of the city into Mediolanum.^[2][3] The city's role as a major political centre dates back to the late antiquity, when it served as the capital of the Western Roman Empire.^[4]

From the 12th century until the 16th century, Milan was one of the largest European cities and a major trade and commercial centre, as the capital of the Duchy of Milan, one of the greatest political, artistic and fashion forces in the Renaissance.^[5][6] Having become one of the main centres of the Italian Enlightenment during the early modern period, it then became one of the most active centres during the Restoration, until its entry into the unified Kingdom of Italy. From the 20th century onwards Milan became the industrial and financial capital of Italy,^[7][8] one of the economic capitals of Europe and a global financial centre.^[9][10]