Marseille, France

The history of this port in southeastern France dates back to the seventh century BC when the Greeks arrived from Asia Minor. They named the port Massilia and soon spread to other areas in France including Nice and Arles. By the second century BC many Greek temples were erected on the hills above the city. In 123 BC the Greeks joined the Romans in an alliance to expand its territories. A civil war broke out between Caesar and Pompey, and the people of Marseilles were forced to side with the defeated Pompey. French colonies began to settle in the area by the nineteenth century.

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