 Belfast has a long and interesting history. It began as a
barrier separating County Antrim and County Down and protecting Carrickfergus,
a more important town 10 miles to the north. The hills surrounding Belfast
had been inhabited since prehistoric times, although these people avoided
the wooded, flood-prone valley bottom. A
castle was built at the meeting of the Rivers Lagan and Farset by the 1200s
but it failed to attract a town. The majority of historical events happened
from 1600 on and are grouped by century-1600s,
1700s, 1800s, 1900s, future. |