| − | '''Manchester''' is a major industrial city in the North West of [[England]], in the metropolitan [[county]] of [[Greater Manchester]], and formerly a part of [[Lancashire]]. It is the third largest city in England after [[London]] and [[Birmingham]]. It was formerly an important inland port, served by the [[Manchester Ship Canal]] beside the [[River Mersey]]. | + | '''Manchester''' is a major industrial city in the North West of [[England]], in the metropolitan [[county]] of [[Greater Manchester]], and formerly a part of [[Lancashire]]. It is the seventh largest city in England. Despite this, given its importance it is often considered to be the UKs 'third city'. More recently it has even laid claim to be the UKs 'second city', a source of ongoing debate, particularly between Manchester and [[Birmingham]]. It was formerly an important inland port, served by the [[Manchester Ship Canal]] beside the [[River Mersey]]. |
| − | Originally a Roman military settlement named ''Mamcumium'', and later of a tenth century [[burh]] (Anglo-Saxon fortified place), Manchester was of only regional importance until the [[Industrial Revolution]], when it became a major centre of the [[cotton]] industry and renowned as a "shock city", a place where new urban and social developments were undertaken. Manchester and its environs saw the first large-scale application of factory technology and organisation; Manchester was the first city to experience full-scale suburbanisation; it was (with Liverpool) the first city to have a fully locomotive-hauled public railway, in 1830. It also experienced in full measure the negative aspects of this headlong rush to modernise and urbanise in its terrible slums, described in a dramtic piece of reportage by [[Friedrich Engels]], ''The Condition of the Working Class in England'' (1844-45; first published in English 1892). In recent years the city centre has seen large scale renovation, including that of a quarter damaged by an [[IRA]] [[terrorist]] bomb in 1996. The city is home to the [[University of Manchester]] and [[Manchester Metropolitan University]]. | + | Originally a Roman military settlement named ''Mamcumium'', and later of a tenth century [[burh]] (Anglo-Saxon fortified place), Manchester was of only regional importance until the [[Industrial Revolution]], when it became a major centre of the [[cotton]] industry and renowned as a "shock city", a place where new urban and social developments were undertaken. Manchester and its environs saw the first large-scale application of factory technology and organisation; Manchester was the first city to experience full-scale suburbanisation; it was (with Liverpool) the first city to have a fully locomotive-hauled public railway, in 1830. It also experienced in full measure the negative aspects of this headlong rush to modernise and urbanise in its terrible slums, described in a dramatic piece of reportage by [[Friedrich Engels]], ''The Condition of the Working Class in England'' (1844-45; first published in English 1892). In recent years the city centre has seen large scale renovation, including that of a quarter damaged by an [[IRA]] [[terrorist]] bomb in 1996. The city is home to the [[University of Manchester]] and [[Manchester Metropolitan University]]. |
| | Manchester is world-renowned not only for its position as one of the most important cities during the industrial revolution, but also for the scientific progress made during the 20th century. Below are some of the most notable scientists: | | Manchester is world-renowned not only for its position as one of the most important cities during the industrial revolution, but also for the scientific progress made during the 20th century. Below are some of the most notable scientists: |