London and its People, A Social History from Medieval Times to the Present Day

London, one of the world's great cultural, political and financial centres, was founded by the Romans nearly 2000 years ago as one of their remoter outposts. It became the heart of an empire much larger than the Romans could ever have envisaged and ironically its location at what was, in effect, the edge of Europe perversely worked in its favour. Free from the squabbles and conflicts that raged on the continent, London developed its specialities, took advantage of its seafaring skills, exploited the riches of the kingdom's possessions overseas, and became wealthy and adventurous.