The Great Wall winds across northern China like a stone dragon. Different dynasties built and rebuilt sections over many centuries to watch borders and guide travelers. Beacon towers allowed guards to send smoke or fire signals across long distances. Today, some parts are restored while others are worn by wind and time. The wall reminds us that big projects often involve teamwork across generations.
Comprehension Check
Why were beacon towers important on the Great Wall?
What big idea does the Great Wall represent?
Machu Picchu in the Andes
Machu Picchu sits high in the Andes Mountains, where Inca builders shaped stone blocks so precisely that many walls stand without mortar. Terraces cut into the slopes allowed people to grow crops in thin mountain soil while controlling rainwater. Stone paths and stairways connect plazas, homes, and temples in a thoughtful plan. When visitors hike the steep trails today, they witness engineering that blends with the landscape instead of fighting it.
Comprehension Check
How did terraces help the people at Machu Picchu?
What is special about the stonework at Machu Picchu?
Intramuros: The Walled City
Intramuros is a historic district in Manila surrounded by thick stone walls. Fortifications, gates, and plazas show how the city once organized trade, worship, and government within a compact space. Many structures were damaged during war, but careful restoration and museums help visitors imagine daily life long ago. Walking along the walls today, people can view churches, cobblestone streets, and cultural sites that connect past and present in the Philippines.
Comprehension Check
What do the walls and gates of Intramuros reveal about the old city?
How can visitors learn about life in Intramuros long ago?
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