2500
years ago, as part of Greek colonization in Pontus Euxinus (Black
Sea), was founded Tomis. Tomis sees great prosperity due to the commercial
exchange proceeded between Greek colonists and the native Gaeto-Dacians.
From the 3rd century BC on rapid paces of development were registered
in all fields of activity. Thus,
around 300 BC, the Tomis settlement was the battlefield of wars between
Lisymah, the Macedonian king and Dromihaites, the Gaeto-Dacian king
in the Danubian Plane. Then, under the Roman domination, set up around
29 BC, Tomis made staggering progress. The history of the first years
of our era came to the fore due to Publius Ovidius Naso, a Roman poet
exiled here between 9 - 17 AC, at Octavian Augustus's orders. During
the 2nd century, Tomis became residence of the province taking pride
in calling itself, the biggest metropolis of entire Pont. In the middle
of the 3rd century and the beginning of the 4th century considerable
efforts were made in order to restore the town. It was then when remarkable
monuments were built: the Roman building with the mosaic, thermae,
residential districts with paved streets, portals and sewers, underground
galleries, etc. The wall of the precincts was built in the same period
and was subsequently restored several times, the last time in the 6th
century AC. Between 4 - 6 century AC the fortress becomes an archiepiscopal
headquarter. The inscriptions, the Christian monuments and the four
huge basilicas illustrate this historical part. During the 6th and
even at the beginning of the 7th century, Tomis was violently attacked
by the Slavs and the Avars. In the 9th century the region is reorganized
by the Byzantine Empire.
Tomis is recalled by several Byzantine writers under the name of Constantia
or Constanta. The town is also found on medieval nautical maps as
well as on the Genoa's sailors ones. The
economical and cultural role during the Mircea cel Batran's reign
is not perceptible, but during the ottoman domination, when called
Kostendje, the significance of the town was minor. Town's lethargy
continues until the 19th century, when some harbour arrangements were
started and the railway Constanta-Cernavoda was laid out, crucial
moment for further development of the town. After the Independence
War (1877-1878) the town merges out of the ottoman domination, regains
its name of Constanta and becomes residence of Constanta region, integrant
part of Romania. Harbour arrangements are made as well as constructions
of roads, bridges, railways, town planning modernizations. Constanta
was seriously affected by the two World Wars, the town being reconstructed
each time; after 1945 the rising advance continues and Constanta becames
one of the most developed towns in Romania. Nowadays Constanta is
the biggest port in Romania, a powerful industrial commercial and tourist
centre, a wide gate towards the world.
In the middle
of the 3rd century and the beginning of the 4th century considerable
efforts were made in order to restore the town. It was then when remarkable
monuments were built: the Roman building with the mosaic, thermae,
residential districts with paved streets, portals and sewers, underground
galleries, etc. The wall of the precincts was built in the same period
and was subsequently restored several times, the last time in the 6th
century AC. Between 4 - 6 century AC the fortress becomes an archiepiscopal
headquarter. The inscriptions, the Christian monuments and the four
huge basilicas illustrate this historical part. During the 6th and
even at the beginning of the 7th century, Tomis was violently attacked
by the Slavs and the Avars. In the 9th century the region is reorganized
by the Byzantine Empire.
Tomis is recalled by several Byzantine writers under the name of Constantia
or Constanta. The town is also found on medieval nautical maps as
well as on the Genoa's sailors ones. The
economical and cultural role during the Mircea cel Batran's reign
is not perceptible, but during the ottoman domination, when called
Kostendje, the significance of the town was minor. Town's lethargy
continues until the 19th century, when some harbour arrangements were
started and the railway Constanta-Cernavoda was laid out, crucial
moment for further development of the town. After the Independence
War (1877-1878) the town merges out of the ottoman domination, regains
its name of Constanta and becomes residence of Constanta region, integrant
part of Romania. Harbour arrangements are made as well as constructions
of roads, bridges, railways, town planning modernizations. Constanta
was seriously affected by the two World Wars, the town being reconstructed
each time; after 1945 the rising advance continues and Constanta becames
one of the most developed towns in Romania. Nowadays Constanta is
the biggest port in Romania, a powerful industrial commercial and tourist
centre, a wide gate towards the world.