Oxford is
a city in central southern England. It is the county town of Oxfordshire, and
forms a district within the county. It has a population of just under 165,000,
of whom 153,900 live within the district boundary.
Oxford has
a diverse economic base. Its industries include motor manufacturing, education,
publishing and a large number of information technology and science-based
businesses.
The city is
known worldwide as a university town and home of the University of Oxford, the
oldest university in the country and the English-speaking world.
Buildings
in Oxford demonstrate an example of every English architectural period since
the arrival of the Saxons, including the iconic, mid-18th-century Radcliffe
Camera. Oxford is known as the "city of dreaming spires", a
term coined by poet Matthew Arnold in reference to the harmonious architecture
of Oxford's university buildings.
Oxford was
first settled in Saxon times, and was initially known as "Oxenaforda",
meaning "Ford of the Oxen"; fords were more common than
bridges at that time. It began with the foundation of an oxen
crossing in the early 900 AD period.
Oxford was
heavily damaged during the Norman Invasion of 1066. Following the conquest, the
town was assigned to a governor, Robert D'Oyly, who ordered the construction of
Oxford Castle to confirm Norman authority over the area.
The
University of Oxford is first mentioned in 12th-century records. As the
University took shape, friction between the hundreds of students living where
and how they pleased led to a decree that all undergraduates would have to
reside in approved halls. What put an end to the halls was the emergence
of colleges. These colleges were established at a time when Europeans were
starting to translate the writings of Greek philosophers.
The sweating
sickness epidemic in 1517 was particularly devastating to Oxford and Cambridge
where it killed half of both cities' populations, including many students and
dons.
During World
War II, Oxford was largely ignored by the Germans during the Blitz due to the
lack of heavy industry such as steelworks or shipbuilding that would have made
it a target, although it was still affected by the rationing and influx of
refugees fleeing London and other cities. The University's colleges served as
temporary military barracks and training areas for soldiers before deployment.
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