London was probably founded around 43 AD after the Roman invasion of Britain. In the Middle Ages, London faced many disasters like fires, plagues, and wars. In 1066, William the Conqueror conquered London and built landmarks like the Tower of London. During the Tudor period in the 16th century, London became a center of commerce and culture with playwrights like Shakespeare. The Great Fire of London in 1666 destroyed over 60% of the city but landmarks like St. Paul's Cathedral were rebuilt. In the 19th century, London grew to be the largest city in the world during the British Empire and era of industrialization.