2000 Years - A Financial and Commercial History of London

Join this evening talk to discover how the City of London became the financial and commercial capital of the world.

How did a modest settlement on the banks of the Thames grow into the world's leading financial and commercial centre?

In this richly illustrated talk, Mike Ktenas charts two millennia of ambition, risk and reinvention in the City of London. Travel from the Roman river port to Saxon revival and Norman consolidation. Explore the rise of the medieval guilds and the livery companies. See how merchants, migrants and makers shaped a unique civic economy that prized enterprise and self‑governance. Follow coffee house deal making, the emergence of exchanges and banks, and the expansion of global trading networks. Consider the shocks of war, the realities of post war rebuilding, and the late twentieth century changes that placed the Square Mile on a modern international stage.

Whether you are a history fan, a finance professional, or simply curious about how cities succeed, this accessible story reveals the people, places and pivotal moments that turned London into a commercial giant, and the choices that helped it stay there.

About the speaker:

• Mike Ktenas is a member of the City of London Guide Lecturers Association.

What to expect:

• The talk will last approximately 50-60 minutes followed by Q&A.

IMPORTANT: This talk will be taking place in-person only at The London Archives.