World history abounds with incredible historical sites that capture its spirit. From immersing yourself in gladiator fantasies at Rome’s Colosseum to discovering hidden chambers beneath Angkor Wat, these architectural marvels will certainly leave an indelible mark on you.
Discover a piece of American history at the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island where 12 million immigrants have made their debut on American soil.
Petra
Petra’s incredible ruins are nothing short of jaw-dropping; their unspoiled splendor leaves visitors speechless. Boasting hundreds of rock-cut tombs, Roman theater, obelisks and temples as well as colonnaded streets – and its sumptuous Ad Deir Monastery – it will take days just to explore all its wonders!
Petra’s Treasury or Al Khazneh stands out as one of its many iconic wonders, captivating visitors’ imagination and inspiring them to travel there for themselves. Dating back to 1st century BC as a royal tomb, this impressive structure topped by an intricately carved urn is undoubtedly the highlight of any visit to this ancient city.
Easter Island
Easter Island (formerly Rapa Nui) has long captivated people from all around the globe with its towering stone statues known as moai that dot its landscape and are thought to represent our ancestors.
Jacob Roggeveen of the Dutch navy made initial contact with the island on Easter Sunday 1722 when his party landed there and estimated its population between 2,000 and 3,000 inhabitants.
Scientists believe Polynesians from Marquesas and Mangareva islands settled Hawaii between 13th and 16th centuries. They created Moai from volcanic tuff found locally, often placing them on massive stone platforms known as Ahus for display or use at sacred locations; some depicted deified ancestors while others served to guard villages.
The Acropolis
Athens’ iconic landmarks can be found here on Sacred Rock, including some of Greece’s most magnificent structures such as the Parthenon. Built between 447 BC and 438 BC during Pericles’ rule as statesman, its architects Iktinos and Kallicrates designed the colossal structure which later featured decorations by master sculptor Pheidias.
The Acropolis also features the Erechtheion, a fully Ionic temple constructed during the last twenty years of 5th century BCE and featuring battle scenes depicting Greek victory over Persians at Marathon. Most original sculpture elements can now be found at London’s British Museum.
Athena-worship was common during the Greek Dark Ages (800s BCE to 480s BCE), when Athena-cults emerged on its slopes. But its true glory didn’t reach its zenith until Archaic Period (8th century – early 5th century BCE).
The Terracotta Army
The Terracotta Army discovery in 1974 marked an unprecedented turning point in Chinese archaeology. These life-sized figures made from intricately worked terracotta were found buried with Qin Shi Huang as part of his tomb complex.
These figures depict infantrymen, cavalrymen, charioteers and officers positioned in battle formation. Each figure differs in size and shape to indicate its rank; some even sport distinct facial expressions to convey emotion.
Archaeologists believe that when the Qin dynasty collapsed, marauders raided these pits for weapons to set on fire – weakening support rafters and eventually leading them all collapse, damaging some figures and leading to their eventual loss. The first two pits discovered contained thousands of terracotta warriors and horses as well as weapons and a war chariot. Archaeologists speculate that once this took place, marauders broke in looking for real ones to set aflame; once this happened they caused support rafters and roofs to collapse as roof support rafters weakened further weakening support rafters weaken further leading to collapsed roofs collapsing roof support rafters collapsed by weakening support rafters weakening support rafters failing and collapsing which damaged several figures while many more figures were lost completely.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa
One of Italy’s iconic landmarks, the Leaning Tower of Pisa is a must-visit attraction. Once part of Cathedral and Baptistery in Pisa – a massive undertaking which showcases how mathematics plays an essential part in building structures – its leaning structure stands as testament to this fact.
Construction on this tower began in 12th century and finished by 1372; however, since then it has continued to tilt due to soft ground where it was placed for its foundation. Although attempts were made at straightening it out without success.
However, the tower remains an iconic tourist destination and often draws crowds of visitors who pose for classic photos with them holding up its leaning structure. Be sure to secure tickets early as admission may be restricted.
