Hello, I'm an expert on historical and cultural studies with a particular interest in the history of the Vatican and its establishment. Let's delve into the fascinating history of the Vatican and its first establishment. The Vatican, as we know it today, is a modern city-state that was established with the signing of the Lateran Treaty on February 11, 1929. However, the roots of the Vatican as a significant religious and political entity go much further back in history. To understand the first establishment of the Vatican, we must look at the broader context of the Roman Catholic Church and the historical development of Rome. The Vatican Hill, from which the city-state takes its name, has been a significant location since ancient Roman times. It was traditionally the site of the circus built by Caligula, and later by Nero, where he is said to have held games that lasted 100 days. The hill was also the location of the gardens of Emperor Nero, which were later confiscated and used by the Roman Emperors for their own purposes. The establishment of the Roman Catholic Church as a central religious authority in Rome is closely tied to the history of the Vatican. The Church's influence grew with the spread of Christianity throughout the Roman Empire, and by the 4th century, Christianity was the dominant religion in Rome. The Basilica of St. Peter, built over the traditional site of St. Peter's tomb, became a central place of Christian worship and is located on the Vatican Hill. The papal states, which were territories in the Italian Peninsula under the sovereignty of the Pope, existed from the 8th century until 1870. These states were not confined to the area of the current Vatican City and included a much larger territory. The Popes, as both spiritual and temporal rulers, held significant power and influence in these regions. The Lateran Treaty of 1929 was a pivotal moment in the establishment of the Vatican as a sovereign entity. It was an agreement between the Holy See and Italy that recognized Vatican City as an independent state. This treaty ended the so-called "Roman Question," which had arisen from the annexation of the Papal States by the Kingdom of Italy in 1870 and the subsequent lack of a territorial agreement regarding the Pope's governance. The Vatican City itself is a small territory, approximately 44 hectares in size, and is entirely surrounded by Rome. It is the smallest independent state in the world by both area and population. The city-state is governed as an absolute monarchy with the Pope as its head. The Vatican is not only the religious center of the Catholic Church but also a hub for cultural and artistic treasures, including the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museums. In summary, while the modern establishment of the Vatican as a city-state is marked by the Lateran Treaty of 1929, its significance as a religious and political entity has a much longer history, deeply intertwined with the development of the Roman Catholic Church and the city of Rome itself. read more >>

Name. The name Vatican city was first used in the Lateran Treaty, signed on 11 February 1929, which established the modern city-state. The name is taken from Vatican Hill, the geographic location of the state.read more >>