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?