Settlement and History of London

River Thames

The River Thames is an integral factor behind the settlement and history of London because the waves of migration into the area since prehistoric times would not have been possible if settlers had not recognized the strategic value of the River Thames. London Bridge may be one of the most famous of the bridges spanning the River Thames and has undergone various changes during the waves of settlement and history of London over time.

Bubonic Plague

No discussion about the settlement and history of London would be complete without talking about the Bubonic Plague (also called the Black Death) which severely decimated the population of London from 1665 to 1666.) This epidemic was also known as the Great Plague of London which killed one-fifth of London’s population. The Bubonic Plague is believed to have been caused by the Yersinia pestis bacterium carried throughout the city by rats.