Believe it or not, but the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world counts its existence for 11,000 years as of today. The town, Damascus, is the Syrian capital city, and astonishingly enough, not much has changed behind this ancient city’s walls. However, not many towns keep the same faces for such a long time, often changing and evolving. Sometimes the city development makes it even more beautiful, but as it is in a more often case, the alluring greenery and historical houses have to make way for skyscrapers in the ever-changing city skyline.

The world has increased over the last 100 years that it’s difficult to imagine just how much things have changed during that time. Many of the world’s most famous cities and country capitals – like Kuala Lumpur for example, or Hong Kong – bare little resemblance to their earlier selves, and cities such as Dubai didn’t even exist at all until relatively recently.

Take a look at these before and after pictures of beautiful cities to see what we mean. Compiled by Bored Panda, they’re sure to give you a fresh perspective on how you look at the world’s biggest cities and settlements.

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#1 Dubai, United Arab Emirates – 2000 And Now

#2 Seoul, South Korea – 1900 And Now

#3 Vilnius, Lithuania – 1900 And Now

#4 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – 1970 And Now

#5 Singapore, Republic Of Singapore – 2000 And Now

#6 Tokyo, Japan – 1945 And Now

#7 Dubai, United Arab Emirates – 2005 And Now

#8 Rio De Janeiro, Brazil – 1930 And Now

#9 Sydney, Australia – 1932 And Now

#10 Shenzen, China – 1964 And Now

#11 Fortaleza, Brazil – 1975 And Now

#12 Bangkok, Thailand – 1988 And Now

#13 Athens, Greece – 1862 And Now

#14 Toronto, Canada – 1930 And Now

#15 Berlin, Germany – 1945 And 1990s

#16 Jakarta, Indonesia 1960 And Now

#17 Melbourne, Australia – 1920 And Now

#18 London, The Great Britain – 1920 And Now

#19 Istanbul, Turkey – 1905 And Now

#20 New York, Usa – 1962 And Now

#21 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – 1920 And Now

#22 Chicago, Usa 1937 And Now

#23 Shanghai, China – 1987 And Now

#24 Los Angeles, Usa – 1940 And Now

#25 San Francisco, USA – 1906 And Now

#26 San Francisco, Usa – 1947 And Now

#27 Dubai, United Arab Emirates 2005 And Now

#28 Long Beach, Usa – 1953 And Now

#29 Macau, China – 1964 And Now

#30 Hong Kong, China – 1980 And Now

#31 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – 1920 And Present

The transformation of cities over the last century is a testament to human innovation and progress. As we witness these urban landscapes evolve, it’s reminiscent of how humanity has progressed in leaps and bounds, especially when considering the contrast between early innovations and modern achievements. Just as cities like Dubai emerged from the desert, the comparison of historical achievements, such as the Wright brothers’ initial flight leading to Apollo moon missions, speaks to the impact of change over time.

For deeper insights into these shifts in human achievement, exploring how life transformed within a single century can be illuminating.

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