The New 7 Wonders of the World
On 7 July 2007 , the results for the New 7 Wonders campaign were announced. Thousands of sites were nominated, but in the end, voters from all over the world decided on these seven spectacular sights.
Read on to find out more about them.
The Taj Mahal (1630 AD) Agra , India
In 1630, Shah Jahan, emperor of the Mughal Empire was grief-stricken when his third and favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal died while giving birth to their 14 th child. The heartbroken emperor then ordered the construction of a mausoleum* in her memory.
The mausoleum was named The Taj Mahal after his wife. Today, the Taj Mahal is one of the most recognisable buildings in the world. The dome shaped edifice* was made entirely of white marble and inlaid with precious stones. While the white marble mausoleum is most familiar, the Taj Mahal is actually a complex of many structures and gardens.
*A mausoleum is a building which contains the grave of a famous person or the graves of a rich family.
*An edifice is a large and impressive building.
The Great Wall of China (220 BC and 1368 – 1644 AD) China
The Great Wall of China is the largest man-made monument ever to have been built on earth and is rumoured to be the only visible thing from space.
In 221 BC, Qin Shi Huang conquered all opposing states and unified China , establishing the Qin Dynasty. In order to protect his empire from attacks by the Mongols from the north, Emperor Qin ordered the construction of a new wall to connect the existing fortifications along the empire's northern frontier. This was how the Great Wall of China came about.
The Roman Colosseum (70 – 82 AD) Rome , Italy
This great oval-shaped amphitheatre was built in the centre of Rome to entertain and show favours to successful soldiers, as well as to show the might and glory of the Roman Empire . The Colosseum was used for gladiatorial contests as well as public spectacles
Although the Colosseum is in a ruined condition today because of earthquakes and stone-robbers, its impact is long-lasting. Today, nearly 2000 years later, all modern sports stadiums are built based on the design of the Roman Colosseum's original design.
Machu Picchu (1460 – 1470) Peru
In the 15 th century, the Emperor of the Inca Empire built a city in the clouds, on a mountain known as Machu Picchu or “ Old Mountain ”. The city was abandoned less than 100 years after its construction when its people were defeated by the Spanish.
Over the years, the surrounding jungle grew to enshrine the city and it became “lost” to the world, until it was re-discovered by historian and explorer, Hiram Bingham in 1911.
Petra (9 BC – 40 AD) Jordan
Petra was the glittering accomplishment of the Nabataean empire and sits on the edge of the Arabian Desert . The Nabataeans were masters of water technology and they built their capital with great tunnel constructions and water chambers. A theatre, using Greek and Roman architectural principles, was built to house 4 000 people.
Today, Petra is an impressive example of Middle Eastern culture.
Christ Redeemer (1931) Rio de Janeiro , Brazil
This 38-meters tall statue is one of the world's best-known monuments. It was designed by Brazilian Heitor da Silva Costa and created by French sculptor Paul Landowski. The monument took five years to construct and is an icon of the city, Rio de Janeiro in Brazil . It is also a symbol of the warmth of the Brazilian people, who receive visitors with open arms.
The Pyramid at Chichén Itzá (before 800 AD) Yucatan Peninsula , Mexico
Chichén Itzá is the most famous temple city of the Mayan civilisation. It served as the political and economic centre of the civilisation. The various structures in the city, such as the different temples and the pyramid itself are testament to the intelligence and advancement of the Mayan civilisation.
The pyramid at Chichén Itzá was the last and possibly the greatest temple built among all the Mayan temples.