[FOUNDATIONS]

In this foundations unit we looked at many different places and structures. Along the many different things we studied, the most remarkable to me were:

-        The Great Wall of China

-        The Kofun Mountain

-        The Great Serpent Mount

-        Bath of Caracalas

-        Coliseum

-        Aqueduct

-        The pantheon

-        Trajas (WUWU)

-        Hypostyle hall

-        Citadel

-        Lions gate

-        Acropolis

The Great Wall of China was considered a protective barrier or a boundary maker for the Chinese. For many years, it was thought that the great wall was the only man-made structure that was visible from the moon. The materials used differed according to the location and the land. In certain sections of the wall, to ensure a fine standard of the bricks, each manufacturer had to mark each bricks with a name and the date of manufacture. Stone slabs had to be cut and transported from the excavation point. The bigger stone slabs seen weighed around 1000 kg and took much effort to be transported to desired location.

The Kofun Mountain in Japan was built in the early third century. Most of the Kofuns are shaped like a keyhole. The structures represent the differences and similarities between men and women. They explain or tell a story about how men are placed higher than women. Once a part of the wall starts to wear off, it is replaced with identical materials to preserve the original look of the structure.

We also looked at the Ohio Valley burial site which is commonly known as the great serpent mound. It is the world’s largest prehistoric effigy mound yet to be discovered. It is located in the southern part of Ohio and its about 1300 feet long and 3 feet high. It represents an unwiring serpent. The serpent is covered in mystery and controversy. Many people say that it’s a serpent that has swallowed an egg while others suggest that it is an eclipse. Either way people believed that the serpent was the protector of mankind and this figure creates a passage way between the living and the dead. This place was not constructed for burial purposes.