No city has had as powerful and as enduring an impact on Western civilization as London. Throughout its vast and riveting history, London was the capital of a powerful empire that covered one-fifth of the world's landmass and one-quarter of its population; was the headquarters of a constitutional monarchy with more elements of democracy and popular participation than any Western country before the United States; was the economic center of Europe both during and after the Industrial Revolution, serving as its financial center, its banking center, and its largest port; spearheaded innovative modern solutions (including public institutions and municipal police forces) to universal human ills such as crime, disease, and poverty; was the site of historical political movements that led to wider government reform, including the fight for women's suffrage; was the home to some of history's greatest individuals, including William Shakespeare, Queen Victoria, and Winston Churchill; and served as the last bastion of freedom in Europe against the onslaught of the Nazis in World War II. London's greatness continues to this day. The city stands as a global metropolitan center and continues to be synonymous with important developments in international business, culture, and politics.
From the community