The document discusses the history and development of the city of Boston from its founding in 1630 by Puritan colonists as a small settlement on the Shawmut Peninsula through its growth into a major seaport and center of trade and culture by the 18th century. It then outlines some of the key events and periods in Boston's history during the 19th and 20th centuries, including its role in various economic and social movements as well as its modern identity as an economic and educational center in New England today.