Machu Picchu
Tucked away in the rocky countryside northwest of Cuzco, Peru, Machu
Picchu is believed to have been either a royal estate, religious site, or
military fortress for Inca leaders, whose civilization was virtually wiped
out by Spanish invaders in the 16th century. Machu Picchu was built
high up in the Andes Mountains, 2,430 feet above sea level. For hun-
dreds of years, until the American archaeologist Hiram Bingham stum-
bled upon it in 1911, the abandoned citadel’s existence was a secret
known only to peasants living in the region. The site stretches over an
impressive 5-mile distance, featuring more than 3,000 stone steps that
link its many different levels.
Machu Picchu
Tucked away in the rocky countryside northwest of Cuzco, Peru, Machu
Picchu is believed to have been either a royal estate, religious site, or
military fortress for Inca leaders, whose civilization was virtually wiped
out by Spanish invaders in the 16th century. Machu Picchu was built
high up in the Andes Mountains, 2,430 feet above sea level. For hun-
dreds of years, until the American archaeologist Hiram Bingham stum-
bled upon it in 1911, the abandoned citadel’s existence was a secret
known only to peasants living in the region. The site stretches over an
impressive 5-mile distance, featuring more than 3,000 stone steps that
link its many different levels.
The side of the
mountain was
terraced for
agriculture, and
the site features
over 170 buildings
including many
temples, all built
out of stone.
Stones were very precisely fitted together, although they did not have
iron tools. Instead, they used river rocks to carve stones into perfect
shapes. Today, hundreds of thousands of people tramp through Machu
Picchu every year, braving crowds and landslides to see the sun set over
its towering stone monuments
and marvel at the mysterious
splendor of one of the world’s
most famous manmade won-
ders. Although historians and
archaeologists have tried very
hard to understand the myster-
ies of Machu Picchu—why it was
built, and why it was then aban-
doned, it remains unknown.
THREE SENTENCE PER QUESTION
MINIMUM!!!!!!
1. What other culture we have
discussed used terrace agricul-
ture? Why do you think they had
this in common?
2. Why do you think Machu Pic-
chu might have been abandoned?
The side of the
mountain was
terraced for
agriculture, and
the site features
over 170 buildings
including many
temples, all built
out of stone.
Stones were very precisely fitted together, although they did not have
iron tools. Instead, they used river rocks to carve stones into perfect
shapes. Today, hundreds of thousands of people tramp through Machu
Picchu every year, braving crowds and landslides to see the sun set over
its towering stone monuments
and marvel at the mysterious
splendor of one of the world’s
most famous manmade won-
ders. Although historians and
archaeologists have tried very
hard to understand the myster-
ies of Machu Picchu—why it was
built, and why it was then aban-
doned, it remains unknown.
THREE SENTENCE PER QUESTION
MINIMUM!!!!!!
1. What other culture we have
discussed used terrace agricul-
ture? Why do you think they had
this in common?
2. Why do you think Machu Pic-
chu might have been abandoned?