Belfast went from being a small, ancient village on a pilgrim road at the River Lagan ford to a large, influential, industrial city. During its heyday, Belfast was a world leader in linen production, tobacco works, rope making, tea processing and shipbuilding which produced such famous vessels as the RMS Titanic.  The city has also had a profound impact on education and political thought on the island and beyond. With the partition of Ireland in 1920, Belfast was made the capital of the newly created Northern Ireland, which remained part of the United Kingdom. Though Belfast has suffered through periods of sectarian turmoil and violence, its people and their quality continue to influence science, industry, sport, politics, culture and entertainment across the world.