Initially housed in a religious building in the area of Glasgow Cathedral, Glasgow University was founded in 1451. It was not until the 17th Century that it was moved into another building on High Street. Throughout the 16th Century, Glasgow had served as an important academic and religious city, as well as a centre of trade, with significant influence of its craftsmen.

The river Clyde offered access to the city and to all other regions of Scotland, and also provided access to the Atlantic Ocean, which enabled import of tobacco and cotton from North America. Sugar was imported from the Caribbean. These products were later traded throughout Europe. After 1770, larger ships moved further up the Clyde, thus creating the basis for Glasgow’s industry in the next century.

Glasgow’s development as an industrial city was made possible because of the abundance of iron and coal in nearby Lanarkshire, formerly a Scottish county. The city gained renown as the Second City of the Empire, after London. Textile and cotton factories became the main employers in the greater area. As the local merchants became rich through trade, they built magnificent monuments, some of which are still standing, and also invested in the development of industry.

In 1893, the burgh became County of the City of Glasgow, one of the richest cities in the world. The municipal public transport system, libraries, parks and museums all opened during this period. The city centre also gradually moved westward and opulent Victorian buildings began to spring up in what is known as the Merchant City area today. New public buildings, such as the Trades Hall on Glassford Street, and the City Chambers on George Square formed the essence of the city’s wealth in the late 1800s, with their elaborate stonework and intricate interior designs. The city centre was previously on High Street, Saltmarket and Trongate, and when it relocated, these areas began deteriorating, as evidenced in some places today.