York has a rich and varied history, with evidence of human settlement in the area dating back to at least 8000 BC. The Romans founded the city in 71 AD as Eboracum and made it an important economic and administrative center. Over the centuries, York was dominated by various groups such as the Vikings, Saxons and Normans. The city played an important role in the Wars of the Roses and was a major wool trading center in the Middle Ages. Today York is a thriving city with a fascinating historical heritage.