The regional history thread
The history of major nations-states is pretty well-known by the posters on this forum. That's why I propose that you use this thread to post and discuss details about te history of your locale region.
To show what I mean, I will strat with mine (if this is not the place, moderators may erase or move this topic).
The history of Provence: a summary.
On the spatial area:
By "Provence", I mean the current French region, which you can see on this map:
NOTE: this map encompasses region that were not part of the historical Provence for many centuries (ie:Nice and Avignon).
The beginnings.
Before the coming of Greek settlers, Provence was mainly populated by tribes of the Ligures (a people descending of local prehistoric men) and a few Celts. This period (900 BC-400BC) is characterized by the building of fortified villages (oppida). This tribes are regrouped into a kind of confederacy.
In 600 BC, greek navigators from the city of Phocea found on the provençal coast the city of Massilia, after an alliance passed with the local chieftain Nann. The city expanded itself into a city-state toward 300BC and its inhabitants founded many ports on the nearby coast (namely Saint-Tropez, Frejus, Antibes and Nice). During the punic wars, Massilia supported Rome but was left unharmed by the armies of Hannibal.
From 125 BC, the roman expansion toward Massilia further protects the city against raids from the Gauls in the North. Rome found a province named "Provincia", which became later on "Provence". On 102 BC, an invasion by the Teutones and Cimber is repelled by the roman consul Marius near Aix-en-Provence (therefore was the first name "Marius" very popular near Marseille until the 20th century).
During the Roman civil war, Massilia supported Pompey, which resulted in the siege of the town by Caesar in 49BC. The city then formally lost its independance. Provence became in the following centuries one of the most "romanized" province of the Empire and adopted latin as language, and the Roman pantheon.
Tracks of the Roman occupation can still be found in Provence, here follows some example:
The bridge on the Gard, constructed during the 1st century:
The arenas of Arles (1st century BC):
Augustus' victory memorial in the Alps near Nice (6BC)
The Middle-Ages:
In the 5th century, Provence is divided between Burgunds (north) and Wisigoths (south). The frankish expansion southward soon incorporates Provence, which is annexed in 536 AD.
A troubled period follows: the attempts to autonomy of the frankish counts in Provence are repeteadly crushed by the frankish kings.The region is also assaulted in the 8th century by the Sarrazins, who push as far as Lyon. The Caroligians impose a severe administration on Provence, from 750 AD on.
After the treaty of Verdun in 843, Provence is attributed to Lothar. In 855, a Kingdom of Provence is founded, which became later on the kingdom of Burgundy. It is integrated into the Holy Roman Empire in 1033. The cities begin to prosper and are administrated by Consuls.
In 1125, Provence is again divided between the Counts of Toulouse (north) and the House of Catalogne (south). The southern part was known as the county of Provence.
... to be continued.
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...cool to still see the four red bars in many occitan flags and seals 
