Berlin Compared to many European cities, Berlin is comparatively young.
The earliest documented history is found in early to mid 13th century, when the city developed from two merchants' settlements, Berlin and C lln on the River Spree. Both cities, situated on a medieval trading route junction, experienced rapid economic growth and formed a union in 1307. Berlin's traditional strengths have been culture, education, and the sciences. Since the reunification of Germany, the city is once again the country's capital city and many international companies are moving into their new offices in the city or are setting up new head offices. Berlin is an extremely attractive location for new high-tech enterprises, especially those working in the fields of information and communications technology, but also those in medical technology, laser technology, bioengineering and genetic engineering.