Chichen- Itza

Maya People

DID YOU KNOW ?

The sacred city of the Itza, called Chichen-Itza (chee-chehn eet-sah) in Maya, is located 75 miles east of Merida, the Capital of the State of Yucatan, Mexico. This archaeological site is rated among the most important of the Maya culture and covers an area of approximately six square miles where hundreds of buildings once stood. Now most are mounds, but about thirty may still be seen by tourists.

I CAN’T BELIEVE

The ruins are divided into two groups. One group belongs to the classic Maya Period and was built between the 7th and 10th centuries A.D., at which time the city became a prominent ceremonial center. The other group corresponds to the Maya-Toltec Period, from the later part of the 10th century to the beginning of the 13th century A.D. This area includes the Sacred Well and most of the outstanding ruins.

When Chichen-Itza was first settled it was largely agricultural. Because of the many centos in the area, it would have been a good place to settle. During the Central Phase of the Classic Period, referred to as Florescence, (625 -800 A.D.) arts and sciences flourished here. It was at this time that Chichen-Itza became a religious center of the increasing importance, evidenced by the buildings erected: the Red House, the House of the Deer,Nunnery and its Annex, the Church, the Akab Dzib, the Temple of the Three s and theLintel House of Phalli.

Toward the end of the Classic Period, from 800 to 925 A.D., the foundations of this magnificent civilization weakened, and the Maya abandoned their religions centers and the rural land around them. New, smaller centers were built and the great cities like Chichen-Itza were visited only to perform religious rites or bury the dead. The Itza people abandoned their city by the end of the 7th century A.D. and lived on the west coast of the peninsula for about 250 years. However, by the 10th century A.D. they returned to Chichen-Itza.

Around 1000 A.D. the Itza allied themselves with two powerful tribes, Xio and Cocom, both claiming to be descendants of the Mexicans. This alliance was favorable to the Itza for about two centuries. During this time, the people of Chichen-Itza added to the site by constructing magnificent buildings bearing the touch of Toltec art: porches, galleries, colonnades and carvings depicting serpents, birds and Mexican gods.

The Toltec influenced the Itza in more ways than just architecture. They also imposed their religion on the Itza, which meant human sacrifice on a large scale. They expanded their dominions in northern Yucatan with an alliance with Mayapan and Uxmal. As the political base of Chichen-Itza expanded, the city

added even more spectacular buildings: the Observatory, Kukulcan's Pyramid, the Temple of the Warriors, The Ball Court, and The Group of the Thousand Columns.

The Temple of the Warriors has pillars sculptured in bas-relief, which have retained much of their original color. Murals once adorned its walls. It is surrounded by numerous ruined

buildings known as the Group of a Thousand Columns.

The Cenote of Sacrifice was reserved for rituals involving human sacrifice involving the rain God. The victims were not only young women, but also children and elderly men and women.

Possibly the best known construction on the site is Kukulcan's Pyramid. El Castillo (Kukulkan-Quetzalcoatl), a square-based, stepped pyramid that is approximately 75 feet tall. This pyramid was built for astronomical purposes

and during the vernal equinox (March 20) and the autumnal equinox (September 21) at about 3 P.M.. the sunlight bathes the western balustrade of the pyramid's main stairway. This causes seven isosceles triangles to form imitating the body of a serpent 37 yards long that creeps downwards until it joins the huge serpent's head carved in stone at the bottom of the stairway. Mexican researcher Luis El Arochi calls it "the symbolic descent of Kukulcan" (the feathered serpent), and believes it could have been connected with agricultural rituals.

In 1194, Mayapan broke the alliance and subdued Chichen and Uxmal. The city was gradually abandoned.

Toya Bonnici Yr. 6.2

HISTORY OF THE

WHO WERE THE AZTECS? The Aztecs were a Pre-Columbian Mesoamerican people of central Mexico in the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries. In Mexico they built a great civilization including cities, pyramids and temples.

Did you know? Aztecs comes from the word Azteca. It is derived from aztlan (White land). Aztlan is the place where, according to Aztecs tradition, their

tribe originated. According to Aztec legend at the beginning of 12th century until the 13th century, the Aztec peoples migrated south to the Valley of Mexico in search of a place to settle. By the 1400’s and into the early 1500’s the Aztecs had established one of the most advanced populations in the Americas.

What was their religion? Aztec people practised a religion that affected every part of their lives. To honour their gods, they constructed towering temples, huge sculptures and held ceremonies that included bloody human sacrifices. How was the Aztec empire destroyed? The Aztec empire was destroyed by the Spaniards and their leader Hernar Cortes. The Aztecs mistook the Spaniards for gods but Cortes

with the help of other tribes that feared and hated the Aztecs, fought the Aztec warriors and won. By the mid-1500 the Aztec empire had collapsed. Michela Scalpello Yr. 6.2

Hagia Sophia What is Hagia Sophia?

Hagia Sophia is (1)Constantine’s church (2)Theodosius II’s church (3)Justinan’s church (4)Mosque (5)Museum

� Hagia Sophia was choosen a world heritage site by UNESCO

1985

� Rebuilt by the orders of Emperor Justinian in 537, for 900 years Hagia Sophia had been the centre of orthodox Christianity until 1453 when the city was concurred by Ottomans. 500 years following the conquest of Muslims, it became a jewel for the Muslim world and as the grand mosque of the sultans.

� In 1935, Hagia Sophia had been coverted into a museum of

Turkish Republic by the orders of Ataturk, and became one of the most significant monuments not only in Turkey but on earth with its architecture and its historical riches .

� The church has a rectangular shape, and the vast square nave

measuring 31m (102ft) is covered with a central done that is carried on four pendentives. The arcade around the dome is unbroken with 40 arched windows to bring the light inside. Excluding the two nathexes and the large atrium, the basilica measures 70x75m. (229x245ft ). The atrium measures 48x32m

(157x106ft) and the total length of the construction measures 135m(442ft)

� The prophet of God in Muslim religion, Muhammad, had

prophesied that the first Muslim to pray in Hagia Sophia would

go to paradise. Since then, it was a great ambition for Muslim leaders to get Hagia Sophia .

� Two restorations were done in Hagia Sophia at the following

years. In 1739, during the reign of Mahmud I, a medrese, a kitchen to distribute food to the poor, and a library where included. In 1740 a fountain for ritual ablution were built.

� After the first church’s being destroyed,

Theodosius II ordered it to be repaired and inaugurated the second church on 10 October 405. Today we still don’t know whether the original fourth century plans remained unchanged or not. But it still has the standard architecture elements of the Byzantine period: an atrium, probably a narthex and a basilica with galleries.

Isaac Borg Yr 6.2

Hagia Sophia What is Hagia Sophia?

Hagia Sophia is (1)Constantine’s church (2)Theodosius II’s church (3)Justinan’s church (4)Mosque (5)Museum

� Hagia Sophia was choosen a world heritage site by UNESCO

1985

� Rebuilt by the orders of Emperor Justinian in 537, for 900 years Hagia Sophia had been the centre of orthodox Christianity until 1453 when the city was concurred by Ottomans. 500 years following the conquest of Muslims, it became a jewel for the Muslim world and as the grand mosque of the sultans.

� In 1935, Hagia Sophia had been coverted into a museum of

Turkish Republic by the orders of Ataturk, and became one of the most significant monuments not only in Turkey but on earth with its architecture and its historical riches .

� The church has a rectangular shape, and the vast square nave

measuring 31m (102ft) is covered with a central done that is carried on four pendentives. The arcade around the dome is unbroken with 40 arched windows to bring the light inside. Excluding the two nathexes and the large atrium, the basilica measures 70x75m. (229x245ft ). The atrium measures 48x32m

(157x106ft) and the total length of the construction measures 135m(442ft)

� The prophet of God in Muslim religion, Muhammad, had

prophesied that the first Muslim to pray in Hagia Sophia would

go to paradise. Since then, it was a great ambition for Muslim leaders to get Hagia Sophia .

� Two restorations were done in Hagia Sophia at the following

years. In 1739, during the reign of Mahmud I, a medrese, a kitchen to distribute food to the poor, and a library where included. In 1740 a fountain for ritual ablution were built.

� After the first church’s being destroyed,

Theodosius II ordered it to be repaired and inaugurated the second church on 10 October 405. Today we still don’t know whether the original fourth century plans remained unchanged or not. But it still has the standard architecture elements of the Byzantine period: an atrium, probably a narthex and a basilica with galleries.

Isaac Borg Yr 6.2

LASCAUX PAINTINGS What are the LASCAUX PAINTINGS? They are a setting of complex caves in southwestern France famous for their Paleolithic cave paintings.

DID YOU KNOW THAT:

The original caves are located near the village of Montignac, in the Dordogne departement. They contain some of the best-known Upper Paleolithic art. These paintings are estimated to be 17,300 years old

I never knew that:

The cave was discovered on September 12, 1940 by four teenagers named Marcel Ravidat, Jacques Marsal, Georges Agnel, and Simon Coencas, as well as Marcel's dog whose name was Robot. The cave complex was opened to the public in 1948. By 1955, the carbon dioxide (which is one of the gases we need to live and breath) produced by 1,200 visitors per day had visibly damaged the paintings. The cave was closed to the public in 1963 in

order to preserve the art. After the cave was closed, the paintings were restored to their original state, and were monitored on a daily basis. Rooms in the cave include The Hall of the Bulls, the Passageway, the Shaft, the Nave, the Apse, and the Chamber of Felines.

Since 1998 the cave has been beset with a fungus, variously blamed on a new air conditioning system that was installed in the caves, the use of high-powered lights, and the presence of too many visitors As of 2008, the cave contained black mold which scientists were and still are trying to keep away from the paintings. In January 2008, authorities closed the cave for three months even to scientists and preservationists. A single individual was allowed to enter the cave for 20 minutes once a week to monitor climatic conditions. Now only a few scientific experts are allowed to work inside the cave and just for a few days a month but the efforts to remove the mold have taken a toll, leaving dark patches and damaging the pigments on the walls.

The cave contains nearly 2,000 figures, which can be grouped into three main categories which are: animals, human figures and abstract signs. Notably, the paintings contain no images of the surrounding landscape or of anything you might see in the world.

Most of the major images have been painted onto the walls using mineral pigments, although some designs have also been incised into the stone. Many images are too faint too recognize, while others have disappeared entirely.

Over 900 can be identified as animals, and 605 of these have been precisely identified. There are also many geometric figures.

A huge amount of other images include seven felines, a bird, a bear, a rhinoceros, and a human. Among the most famous images are four huge, black bulls or aurochs in the Hall of the Bulls. There are no images of reindeer, even though that was the principal source of food for the artists.

Greta Grech

Yr. 6.2

Stonehenge What is Stonehenge? Stonehenge is an old prehistoric monument.

Where is Stonehenge? Stonehenge is located in England in the English country of Wiltshire about 3.2 kilometres west of Amesbury and 13 kilometres north of Salisbury. How old is it? It was built 2500 years BC What is it made of? It is made of large rocks called megalitic rocks.

Allison Lyon Yr. 6.2

ARC DE TROMPHEARC DE TROMPHEARC DE TROMPHEARC DE TROMPHE

What is the Arc De Triomphe? The Arc De Triomphe is one of the most famous monuments in Paris. It stands in the centre of the Place Charles De Gaulle, (originally named Place de l'Étoile), at the western end of the Champs-Élysées.

What does the Arc de Triomphe stand for? It stands for those who fought and died for France in the French Revolutionary and the Napoleonic wars. Who designed the monument of the Arc De Triomphe? The monument was designed by Jean Chalgrin in 1806.

Matthew Lawrence Buttigieg Yr. 6.2

The Colosseum

The Colosseum which is sited in Rome is

one of the major representative

landmarks of this Vatican City. This

outsized oval stadium is one of the

most visited holiday attractions

for the tourists from all across the world.

The historians believe that it is one of

the prevalent structures ever built for the

period of the Roman Empire. The

Colosseum of Rome is considered to be one of the major accomplishments of

the Roman framework and architecture.

The construction of this huge stadium was started in 75 AD during the reign

of the Roman emperor Vespasian I. It took around 30 years for its completion

was finished during the reign of the Roman emperor Titus. The Roman

Colosseum was by and large used

for the municipal proceedings and

dealings like gladiator matches.

These gladiator matches

integrated the Roman gladiators

who generally fought against the

gladiators or the criminals or wild

animals. Animal hunts, executions of

criminals and mock sea battles

were also some of the popular

events which took place in this stadium during the Roman Empire.

During the Medieval Era, the condition of this Roman Colosseum worsened

due to natural disasters such as earthquakes. Stone robbers from Rome and

other Vatican cities also played an important role in the declinations of this

outsized stadium. They robbed away the precious Swedish stone which was

included in the construction of this Colosseum.

In spite of the severe circumstances

that resulted in its declination, the Roman

Colosseum is still one of the

major attractions for the tourists from all

across the world. Some of the major

attractions in this Colosseum are the

Amphitheatre, the Gladiators Training

School, the Armamentarium, the Summun

Choragium, the sanitarium and the Spolarium.

Today, the Roman Colosseum is used for religious purposes.

Several ceremonies accompanied with the Roman Catholic meetings are

organized in this bulky arena.

Owen Muscat Yr. 6.2

What is the Vatican City? The Vatican City is a church, where the Pope lives. There are lots of things in the Vatican City such as the statue of St Helen and there are the Popes’ tombs.

What is in front of the Vatican? In front of the Vatican, there is a big square where many people from different countries come and talk to the Pope and some shake hands with the Pope. What is there in the Vatican? In the Vatican there is a clock and on the hour, the statues of the apostles come out. In the Vatican there are a lot of marble columns. There are cardinals and the Swiss guards who protect the Pope from danger. What do you find in the Vatican’s church? In the Vatican’s church there are lots of paintings made by intelligent artists and the paintings cost a lot of money. In the Vatican there is a statue of Saint Peter, the first Pope. Rudi Galea Yr. 6.2

The Leaning Tower of PisaThe Leaning Tower of PisaThe Leaning Tower of PisaThe Leaning Tower of Pisa

The Tower of Pisa is a freestanding bell tower, of the cathedral of the Italian city of Pisa. It is situated behind the Cathedral and is the third oldest structure in Pisa`s Cathedral Square. It is famous for leaning 4.4meters. It was built to stand vertically but began leaning soon after construction started. It tilted because its foundation was built on unstable soil. Construction of the tower was done in three stages across 177 years.

The height of the tower is 55.86 meters from the ground on the low side and 56.70 meters on the high side. The construction of the building began in 1173 and lasted two centuries. The tower has about 294 steps. In May 2008, after the removal of more soil from underneath the raised end, engineers announced that the Tower had been stabilized such that it had stopped moving for the first time in its history. They stated it would be stable for at least 200 years.

Ryan Saviour Camilleri Yr. 6.2

Pompeii

Where is Pompeii, who settled in it and what did they do? The City of Pompeii is found in western Italy in the region of Campania, near Naples. The first people to step foot in Pompeii were probably prehistoric hunters and fishermen. Later the Greeks settled in this city and started a series of small trading posts which soon grew into very successful merchant city. Later Rome took Pompeii as its own. What happened next?

Pompeii now had its own language and culture. The area now had its own natural resources. Trade flourished and the standard of living raised. Pompeii developed its luxury service, trade with foreign countries and its agriculture. The wealthy people that lived in Rome went to Pompeii for relaxation.

What happened before Mount Vesuvius erupted?

Mount Vesuvius, a volcano had been dormant for very long so no one thought there could be any danger. The first warning came on the 5th of February A.D. 62 about midday. Soon the Earth began to tremble and buildings collapsed while people rushed out of town. This lasted for only a moment. An hour later the area was seized by another earthquake. This continued until nightfall. For the next seventeen years the people began

repairing the damages caused by the earthquake and making Pompeii more splendid than before.

What happened when Mount Vesuvius erupted?

On the morning of August 24th 79 A.D. the volcano erupted. Smoke, mud, flames, and burning stones burst out of the mountain. A rain of ash and rock came down on the city. Poisonous gases and fumes suffocated people and animals. People who could not escape' which were almost all of them' got covered with lava and turned into statues. The volcano's mineral deposits covered Pompeii with a large layer more than 30 feet thick. Anthea Enriquez Page 1 Year 6.2

What ruins can we find in Pompeii?

As time passed people began to excavate the town. The Forum, the baths, many houses and some villas remained well preserved. From these remains, we have evidence of the life in those early days. The floor of one of the houses shows us a trading company which indicates details about professions and categories of workers. Wine jars and graffiti (drawings and words) were found on street walls. An amphitheatre, the swimming pool and the aqueduct which provided water to street

fountains and four public baths were also found.

Did these ruins help us to learn about the life in Pompeii?

From these ruins we learned what people did in their everyday life. At the time of the eruption Pompeii had about 20000 inhabitants. Many rich Romans were visiting Pompeii on their regular vacation. People and animals are seen as statues in different places in Pompeii. Besides the streets, this town had shops on both sides of the streets the mill, some sort of bars and small restaurants. Another two theatres, a gymnasium and a hotel were also found. In 2002 an important discovery was made near the Sarno River. People lived in palafittes. Some scientists suggested that this resembled Venice. Anthea Enriquez Page 2 Year 6.2

Petra Jordan

What is Petra? Petra is a rock. Petra is a historical and archaeological city in the Jordanian governate of Ma’an that is known for its cut architecture and water conduits system. Why was Petra built?

Petra was built because it is a symbol of Jordan. When was it built? It was built c1200BC and settled 7000BC. What was their religion? The NABATEONS worshipped the Arab gods and goddesses of the pre-islamic times as well as a few of their defied kings. Obodas I was defied a god after his death. Dushara was the main god accompanied by his female trinity: Al-‘Uzza’, Allat and Manat. Many statues carved in the rock depict these gods and goddesses.

According to Arab tradition, Petra is the spot where Moses (Musa) struck a rock with his staff and water came forth, and where Moses' brother, Aaron (Harun), is buried, at Mount Hor, known today as Jabal Haroun or Mount Aaron. The Wadi Musa or "Wadi of Moses" is the Arab name for the narrow valley at the head of which Petra is sited. A mountaintop shrine of Moses' sister Miriam was still shown to pilgrims at the time of Jerome in the 4th century, but its location has not been identified since.

Nigel Barbara Yr. 6.2

The Great Wall of China is a series of stone and earthen fortifications in northern China. The Great Wall stretches over 3,948 miles. The Great Wall of China was built wide enough so that 5 horses could ride side by side. In this great wall there is Xi Zhazi village in which most people lived. This is one of the

largest building construction projects ever completed. The Great Wall of China was built over 2,000 years ago by Qin Shi Huangeli, the first emperor of China during the Qin (ch’in) Dynasty. It stretches across the mountains of northern China. The Great Wall of China is not a continuous wall but is a collection of short walls that often follow the crest of hills on the southern edge of the Mongolian plain. The Great Wall extends about 8,850 kilometres (5,500miles).

Kimberley Sant Yr. 6.2