Although Paris is now one of the cultural centers of the world and is well known for its sophisticated sensibilities, it had humble beginnings as a fishing village established around 250 BC by a Celtic tribe. Although this is the first recorded settlement, humans are believed to have lived in the area since the fourth millennium BC.

As the location of the future Paris was ideal for controlling trade and commerce on the river Seine, the area grew fairly prosperous. The Romans took control in 52 BC after a revolt by the Celts. Under Roman rule, the city grew in size and was completely Romanized. The settlement became known as Lutetia.

During the third century AD, the settlement was renamed Paris, the name which it is known by to this day. Also around this time period, the city became Christianized. After Rome\'s control over the area of Gaul collapsed, Paris eventually came under control of the Franks and became the capital of the new kingdom of France under Hugh Capet, the first king of France, in 987. This was not only the beginning of Paris as the capital of France, but of the long-lasting dynasty of the Capetians which lasted until 1328.

Originally, Paris and the surrounding area contained the entirety of France, but as the French crown expanded in both land controlled and power exerted, the city of Paris became more and more important, especially as a major education and religious center. During the reign of Philippe Auguste in the 12th century, many building projects were established in Paris which included the paving of many streets, a new city wall, and the Louvre Palace. The Sainte-Chapelle, the Saint Denis Basilica, and the cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris were constructed during the reign of Louis IX.

Towards the second half of the 18th century, Paris became known as the cultural and intellectual capital of the West. It was at the center of the enlightenment, with its salons being well known centers for discussion regarding the "Age of Reason" and the new thinking regarding the arts, sciences, and philosophies. It remains a cultural center today, even after the struggles of the French Revolution, the Siege of Paris, and the two World Wars.