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The recorded history of Swansea in Wales covers a period of continuous occupation stretching back a thousand years, while there is archaeological evidence of prehistoric human occupation of the surrounding area for thousands of years before that. Swansea ((ウェールズ語:Abertawe)) – occupying a position at the mouth of the River Tawe and adjacent to an extensive bay at the western end of the Bristol Channel – was the main town of its region for much of the Mediaeval period. In the 18th century, local dignitaries attempted to establish it as a tourist resort. The town achieved greater prominence with the onset of the Industrial Revolution. Mirroring similar population explosions in the South Wales Valleys, Swansea's population rose from 6,000 to 17,000 between the Censuses of 1801 and 1851. Industry grew throughout the 19th century, drastically changing the shape and even geography of the town and its surroundings. In the 20th century, industry declined but the town continued to grow in population. Swansea officially gained city status in 1969. ==Pre-industrial Swansea== The oldest known remains on the Gower Peninsula are the Red Lady of Paviland: human bones dating from 22,000 BC.〔''A Guide to Gower'', Strawbridge and Thomas (eds), 1999, published by the Gower Society.ISBN 0-902767-23-2〕 Later inhabitants also left their mark on the land. Examples include the Bronze Age burial mound at Cillibion and the Iron Age hill fort, Cil Ifor.〔''A History of Wales'', John Davies, Penguin, 1990 ISBN 0-14-014581-8〕 Isolated prehistoric artifacts have been found in the area the city proper occupies, but there are far more on Gower. The remains of a Roman villa were also excavated on Gower. By the late 10th century, the region as a whole (including the land around the bay as well as the Gower Peninsula) was part of the Welsh kingdom of Deheubarth under Maredudd ap Owain. The Vikings also visited the Swansea Bay area around the 9th century to 11th century, leaving behind their name for a settlement in the area. The precise nature and location of this settlement are still disputed. Spellings such as ''Swensi'', ''Sweni'' and ''Svenshi'' are found on coins minted around 1140,〔"A hoard of coins found at Rhiwbina in the north of Cardiff in 1980 contained a number which were minted at Swansea ''c.'' 1140 and bore abbreviated forms of the name: SWENSI, SWENS, SVEN, SWENI, SVENSHI." Quoted from ''Place-names in Glamorgan'', Gwynedd O. Pierce, 2002. ISBN 1-898937-57-5; pg. 182〕 While in Wales, the name ''Aper Tywi'' was in use by 1150.〔"The placename is recorded in Welsh sources as ''Aper Tyui'' ''c.'' 1150, ''Abertawi, Abertaui, Abertawy'' 12c." Quoted from ''Place-names in Glamorgan'', Gwynedd O. Pierce, 2002. ISBN 1-898937-57-5; pg. 182〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「History of Swansea」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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