Prehistory
There is enough archaeological evidence to suggest that Tuzla was a rich Neolithic settlement, and hence inhabited continuously for more than 6,000 years which likely makes Tuzla one of the oldest European settlements with sustained living.
Middle Ages to 20th century
The city was first mentioned in 950 by Constantine Porphyrogenitus in his De Administrando Imperio as a fort named Salines. The name Soli was used in the Middle Ages. It means "salts" in Bosnian and the city's present name means "place of salt" in Turkish. During the Middle Ages it belonged mostly to the medieval Kingdom of Hungary.
The Ottomans occupied the city in 1463 and it remained under Ottoman rule for nearly 400 years, where it was administered as part of the Sanjak of Zvornik.
In 1878 it was annexed by Austria-Hungary. After the dissolution of Monarchy it became the part of the newly formed Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes.
On 2 October 1943, Tuzla became the largest liberated town in Europe at the time. In December 1944, the city was unsuccessfully attacked by Chetnik forces of Draža Mihailović along with the Serbian Assault Corps. After the war it developed into a major industrial and cultural centre during the Communist period in the former Yugoslavia.
Bosnian War for independence
In the 1990 elections the Reformists won control of the municipality being the only municipality in Bosnia where non-nationalists won. During the Bosnian war for independence between 1992-1995 the town was the only municipality not governed by nationalist authorities. After Bosnia and Herzegovina declared independence and got recognized by the United Nations the city was besieged by nationalist Serbian forces. A few days later Serbian forces attacked Tuzla. The town was not spared the atrocities of the Bosnian War for independence.
On 25 May 1995, an attack by Serb forces on Tuzla killed 71 people, mostly Bosniak
