Pyramids are not only in Egypt! Check out some of the pyramids in these photos and take a look at some of the articles here. Also, watch the playlist of video clips below. If you have any good links, videos, or photos, please send them to Mr. Martin. Thanks!
It’s incredible that monuments built by ancient civilizations thousands of years ago still stand today. Seeing these sites is like stepping back in time and witnessing what life was like in a place that ceased to exist years ago. Check out this slideshow of26 ancient ruins from Business Insider Australia. I am sure there are some places that are missing, but this is a nice list. I feel fortunate to have visited many of them (11, so far). Have you visited any of these ruins? Here are two photos I took of the Ellora Caves in India, one of my favorite places in India. – Mr. Martin
CAIRO, EGYPT—Another 18th Dynasty tomb has been discovered by archaeologists from the American Research Center in Egypt at Al-Qurna in Luxor. Paintings on the walls of this New Kingdom (1550-1070 B.C.) tomb “are records of daily life practices that prevailed in that era,” according to a statement made by Antiquities Minister Mamdouh al-Damaty. Click HERE to learn more. As we’ve told you in class, these types of tombs, as well as other ancient artifacts are still being discovered.
The statue of Ramses the Great at the Great Temple of Abu Simbel is reassembled after having been moved in 1967 to save it from being flooded. (image source: sv:Forskning & Framsteg 1967 issue 3, page 16)
Construction of the Abu Simbel temple complex started in approximately 1264 BC and lasted for about 20 years, until 1244 BC. Known as the “Temple of Ramesses, beloved by Amun it was one of six rock temples erected in Nubia during the long reign of Ramesses II. Ramses built the Temple at Abu Simbel in Egypt to intimidate his enemies and seat himself amongst the gods. The complex was relocated in its entirety in 1968, on an artificial hill made from a domed structure, high above the Aswan High Dam reservoir. The relocation of the temples was necessary to avoid their being submerged during the creation of Lake Nasser, the massive artificial water reservoir formed after the building of the Aswan High Dam on the Nile River.
In Chapter 2, we are learning about Early Human Culture and the development of art. There are many examples of ancient cave paintings, particularly in France and Spain. Watch the playlist and also check out website for the Lascaux Cave Paintings in France (also mentioned in pages 6-7 in your textbook). Click ‘visit the cave’ to enter this cool website that features some really amazing early art. Women made most of the oldest-known cave art paintings, suggests a new analysis of ancient handprints. Here is a link with other examples of cave paintings around the world. The Bradshaw Foundation also features good information on cave art around the world.
What does this art tell us about early humans? Where are some of the places where prehistoric art or cave art has been found (see Bradshaw Foundation link and other links in this post).
“All over the globe, from Italy to Zimbabwe, civilizations have left behind impressive monuments and structures that attest to their former glory. Appearing in literature, songs, and films, these mystical sculptures, sacred religious sites, royal palaces, fortifications, ancient centers of commerce, ports, and tombs are all we have left of some of history’s most illustrious societies. While some sites were lost for centuries, engulfed by overgrown jungles, others never fell out of use. Either way, these 20 awe-inspiring places are sure to inspire travelers looking for adventure and a connection to the past.” – by Laura Itzkowtiz
Click on the link and check out this slide show. It’s hard to pick 20 places, and I am sure some should be added or are missing from this list. Have you been to any of these places?
Drawing of a wall painting from the tomb of Djehutihotep, a semi-feudal ruler of an Ancient Egyptian province, 1880 BC. A person standing at the front of the sled is pouring water onto the sand.
No, aliens did not build the pyramids! The truth, researchers at the University of Amsterdam announced this week in a study published in the journal Physical Review Letters, may actually be quite simple. It has long been believed that Egyptians used wooden sledsto haul the stone, but until now it hasn’t been entirely understood how they overcame the problem of friction. It amounts to nothing more, scientists say, than a “clever trick.” Read this articleto learn and learn more about this clever trick.
Perhaps the most recognizable symbol of China and its long and vivid history, the Great Wall of China actually consists of numerous walls and fortifications, many running parallel to each other. Originally conceived by Emperor Qin Shi Huang (c. 259-210 B.C.) in the third century B.C. as a means of preventing incursions from barbarian nomads into the Chinese Empire, the wall is one of the most extensive construction projects ever completed. Watch the videos clips of the Great Wall on the History Channel link! They are very good.
The temple ofAngkor Wat, the Egyptianpyramids, Stonehenge, and the famous statues onEaster Island were all built without the conveniences of modern technology. Ancient peoples didn’t have access to forklifts, hydraulic cranes, or flatbed trucks. So how did they build the temples and statues that we admire today? This question is one of the first I have when I visit an amazing ancient ruin like the ones mentioned here. Read this new National Geographic articleI just saw on Facebook to learn how some of these places might have been built. How were they built?
In class today, we talked about the ancient monument of Stonehenge, located in England. Groups discussed what they thought was the purpose of Stonehenge, how it was built, and what it might have meant to the people who built it (see pages 2-3 in your textbook). Watch these two videos to learn more about Stonehenge. Also, here is an article from Discovery News to learn more about Stonehenge:
"My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style."
- Maya Angelou
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