The stages of Leipzig’s history
7th – 9th century
first rural Slavic settlement in the proximity of the confluence of Elster and Parthe – Lipsk: Lindenort (place of the lime tree)
1165
Margrave Otto the Rich assigned Leipzig town ordinances and privileges and the market privilege.
1481
Marcus Brandis, a wanderer printer from Delitzsch, printed the first book in Leipzig.
1497
Emperor Maximilian I assigned Leipzig the imperial exhibition privilege which he confirmed in 1507. Moreover, he assigned Leipzig the staple right.
1539
Implementation of the reformation in Leipzig; Luther sermonises in the St. Thomas' church.
1650
First appearance of Leipziger Zeitung (the first daily newspaper worldwide).
1743
Genesis of the "Great Concert", the predecessor of the concerts in the Gewandhaus and the Gewandhaus' orchestra.
1813
Battle of the nations near Leipzig.
1826
The Brockhaus company launches the industrial manufacturing of books.
1828
Anton Philipp Reclam first founds a lending library, later a publishing house.
1839
Opening of the railway between Leipzig and Dresden; Germany's first intercity railway.
1846
Foundation of the Saxon Academy of Sciences in Leipzig.
1878
Ernst Pinkert opens the zoological garden.
1894
The German Central Library for the Blind comes into existence in Leipzig.
after 1894
Transition from a commodity fair to a sample fair.
1911
Induction of Leipzig’s airport
1912
Foundation of the German library
1938
The Reichs-Progrom-Night represents the beginning of the end for more than 13,000 Jewish citizens.
1945
Invasion by American forces on 18 April; Replacement of the Americans by Soviet forces on 2 July.
1953
Strikes and demonstrations against the SED-government on 17 June.
1989
The Peace Prayers in the Church of St. Nicholai and the following Monday demonstrations at the city ring road of Leipzig become the starting point for a peaceful reunification of Germany.
1996
Inauguration of the new fair grounds.
1997
Reopening of the central station with the "Hauptbahnhof Promenaden" as a modern shopping and service centre.
2000
EInauguration of a new runway at Leipzig/Halle airport, making intercontinental flights possible.
2002
Inauguration of the new Porsche manufacturing facility in Leipzig.
2003
Leipzig becomes candidate city for holding Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012.
2005
Inauguration of the new BMW manufacturing facility in Leipzig.
