Short answers, pulled from the story.
Archaeological evidence shows the site has been occupied since the Bronze Age. The River Lagan flows into the sea through Belfast Lough, marking the spot where a small settlement first took root under what is now Queen's Bridge.
Belfast emerged as the global leader in linen production during the 1820s while shipbuilding became the dominant heavy industry by the early 20th century. By 1914, close to one eighth of world ship production came from these yards including the launch of the RMS Titanic in 1911.
More than a thousand people died in German Luftwaffe raids that appeared over the city four times in the spring of 1941. Over half the city's housing stock was severely damaged or destroyed during this period which caused the greatest loss outside London.
In May 2013 the Northern Ireland Executive committed to removing all peace lines by mutual consent with a target date of 2023 passing without significant progress. Cupar Way barrier stands forty-five feet high and has been in place for twice as long as the Berlin Wall.
In November 2021 Belfast became the third city in British Isles designated by UNESCO as City of Music after Glasgow received designation in 2008 and Liverpool in 2016. The city hosts major music venues and supports genres ranging from Irish traditional music to punk and underground club scenes.