The practice of colonialism by several nations led to the possession and exploitation of weaker countries. This led to the strengthening of the homeland and the oppression of the indigenous populations of the colonies (Nowell, 2013). Colonial cities were deliberately developed within colonial societies in order to centralize political and economic control. In essence, colonial cities facilitated the consolidation and export of wealth to the dominant nation (The Editors of the Encyclopædia Britannica, 2014). Colonial expansion by the British Empire in the 17th century led to the formation of thirteen colonies along the Atlantic coast of North America. (Nowell, 2013). One of these thirteen original colonies was Massachusetts Bay, of which Boston was the capital (The City of Boston, 2009). Under Puritan influence, Boston emerged as an important colonial city. It was the largest city in British North America until the mid-18th century. Its strategic location as a port has made it an important economic center for the New England region (Kales, 2007). In this essay I aim to explore Boston's colonial foundations and reveal their role in shaping the global city of Boston. I also mean to compare Boston to other colonial cities to point to the whole term “colonial city.” The signing of the Cambridge Settlement in 1629 led to the founding of Boston by Puritan settlers in 1630. It was renamed after the city of Boston, Lincolnshire, England, as many prominent settlers came from there (Kales, 2007). These settlers were primarily the owners of the Massachusetts Bay Company. Approximately 20,000 Puritans emigrated from England to Massachusetts to escape political and religious hostility within England, under what is… middle of paper… modern-day Boston, are also European influences ( Mckay, 1985). . Boston has therefore commodified its rich colonial history to encourage tourism, which is an important economic driver of the city. Every year, millions of tourists take the “Walking Tour of the Freedom Trail” and visit the homes of American patriots such as Paul Revere, Colonel Samuel Pierce, and others, to relive history (Jewell, 2005). To conclude, Boston while embracing its colonial identity, presents its legacies as signs of triumph, rather than as symbols of the colonizer's persistent presence. The American influences of the spoken language and more recent developments make this city a unique fusion of European and American culture. Boston's success is attributed to the merging of both nations' conventions. The colonization of Boston thus played a crucial role in making Boston a global city.