The small illustrated history of the city of Cologne is the introductory book to Cologne's history. It is aimed at anyone who wants to familiarize themselves for the first time or again with the over 2000-year history of Cologne. With its numerous color illustrations, redesigned maps, info boxes, and its well-researched presentation, this standard work offers a reliable, easily readable overview of the history of the Rhineland metropolis. The reader embarks on a journey through 2000 years, starting with the Ubii and the Romans and ending in our present day. How did the city on the Rhine develop into the largest German city of the Middle Ages? How did the holy Cologne with its many churches and monasteries come into being? How did people live in past centuries in a city of regional significance? What role did the economy play, and how did wars impact the city?.