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History of Berlin
 From a settlement to a city
The 2 settlements that conceived the basis for the city of Berlin were Cölln, situated on the present-day site of Museum Island, and Berlin, on the northern banks of the Spree. Both were formerly established by the 13th century.
Royal residence and rapid growth
In 1701, following the coronation of elector prince Friedrich III as King Friedrich I of Prussia, Berlin was nominated to the status of royal residence and capital city. Myriad, famous buildings were edified during this period.
Capital of the German Empire
At the time the German Empire was established in 1871, Berlin had 800,000 inhabitants. Wilhelm I of Prussia (1861 - 1888) was crowned German Emperor. Berlin became the capital of the German empire, and by 1895 had over 1.5 million of population.
Reconstruction and division
After the panic and shock of the Nazi dictator and the end of the war, the city was in ruins. The population had almost halved. The city was split in four sectors, each under the administration of one of the victorious Allied powers.
The Fall of the Wall and Reunification
Over the night of 9th November, 1989, the Berlin Wall was suddenly opened, following months of GDR citizens fleeing to the West via Hungary and the USSR. The complete city and Germany as a whole celebrated! From that instant, the citizens of the GDR could once again travel freely.
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