London (IPA: ˈlʌndən) is the capital of the United Kingdom and the Constituent Country of England, and is the largest city in the European Union.[6] An important settlement for two millennia, London's history goes back to its founding by the Romans.[7] Since its beginnings, London has been part of many movements and phenomena throughout history, such as the English Renaissance, the Industrial Revolution, and the Gothic Revival in architecture.[citation needed] The city's core, the ancient City of London, still retains its limited mediaeval boundaries; but since at least the nineteenth century, the name "London" has also referred to the whole metropolis that has developed around it.