The Seventy Wonders of the Ancient World: The Great Monuments and How They Were Built

by Chris Scarre (Editor)

Abu Simbel, Angkor Wat, Petra: today we stand in awe before the great monuments of the past as we wonder who built them and for what purpose. This authoritative and profusely illustrated compendium celebrates the achievements of those ancient builders who created huge and impressive structures without the benefit of modern technology. Expanding upon the theme of the traditional Seven Wonders, The Seventy Wonders of the Ancient World incorporates marvels from around the globe, spanning the centuries from the first stone monuments of the fifth millennium b.c. to the Great Temple of the Aztecs in the sixteenth century a.d. The shaping of the Great Sphinx at Giza, the raising of the stones at Stonehenge, the laying out of the Nazca Lines on the face of the Peruvian desert, or the construction of the Great Wall of China (probably the greatest building project ever attempted in ancient times) are all described and explained in light of the most up-to-date archaeological research. So too are the erection of Egyptian obelisks and Easter Island statues, and the building of Roman roads and Inca bridges. Neglected monuments such as the giant stelae of Aksum or the mountain palace at Sigiriya are set beside the great Baths of Caracalla in Rome and the palace of Persepolis. Packed with factfiles, diagrams, photographs, and newly commissioned perspective views, The Seventy Wonders of the Ancient World provides a testament to the skill of the ancient engineers and architects who created lasting memorials--some for practical ends, others for prestige and propaganda--that have continued to impress successive generations through the ages.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Ancient History, Reference, Art, Architecture, World History

304 pages, Hardcover

First published October 30, 1999

Reviews

[Erik S · Rating 2 out of 5]

Was hoping for a more historical or cultural account of the numerous ancient wonders of the world rather than vague descriptions on how materials were gathered and their dimensions.

[Caroline · Rating 2 out of 5]

more focused on engineering & architecture than I thought

[Stacy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would only recommend this book for people interested in ancient architecture and construction, not the average person.

[Laurel Jackson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve technically finished this now. I split the reading experience in two as the format allows for it and the idea of perusing sections over reading the entire thing. Categories are clearly labelled and artefacts/locations of archaeological note given page numbers.

According to its introduction it is a revised and/or updated text and no authors are named on the cover, only the editor. I imagine the list of authors will be listed near the end of the book.

As a book, it is both interesting and fine. Sounds like an insult, maybe, but it is interesting in that it discusses sites and I didn’t know about beforehand and it is only fine in the way that I love context, notes and greater explanation on how a discovery is made. Much in the same way a discovery or artefact is only significant or relevant as evidence when you have all the information - location of discovery, circumstance and manner of its burial/abandonment etc - a significant discovery of knowledge on why or how a group of people lived the way they did works the same way. Give me evidence, excavation history or notes and the significance takes on a greater meaning beyond “cool - how do we know?”

On the other hand, treat it as a gateway into archaeological study and it probably fulfils its purpose.

Travis Elborough does a better job with this approach though, given that I don’t think he is an actual archaeologist and many of these authors might well be.

[Jonathan Haesaerts · Rating 3 out of 5]

In 'De zeventig klassieke wereldwonderen' overstijgt Chris Scarre de traditionele zeven klassieke wereldwonderen (het eerste hoofdstuk) en voegt er maar liefst 63 andere indrukwekkende gebouwen of beelden uit deze tijdsperiode aan toe. Steeds worden deze wereldwonderen uitvoerig besproken betreffende hun functie en bouwtechnieken zodat populaire vragen betreffende de bouwcapaciteiten van millennia oude volkeren worden beantwoord. Zeker de moeite waard voor wie zich afvraagt hoe in godsnaam de piramiden in Egypte, de beelden op Paaseiland of de mysterieuze Nazca-lijnen in Peru zijn wat ze zijn.

[John Teske · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not what I thought it would be, but then again, I did not see the subtitle when I ordered this from a book club long ago.

I thought this would be a book about 70 wonders of the world, their history, other useful cultural tidbits.

Instead, this is more of an architecture book, describing the construction of each of the monuments, and why such construction is unique and significant.

It is an interesting book, just not what I thought it might be. Still useful for trivia and for D&D RPGing.

[Kristina Giovanni · Rating 3 out of 5]

I should have read the subtitle: "...and how they were built." For what it purports to do, it does well but in a 90s oversized Nat Geo style. I would have preferred a more general summary of the great monuments and how they were used by their civilizations, and less about how they were built, although it does give me a greater appreciation for the sheer enormity of monumental building in terms of physical man-power.

[Emilee Cirbo · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was overall good, it does cater more towards the architectural world. there is some mention of the importance to the cultures and societies. i also wish it had more illustrations / diagrams of the actually structures

[Tapani Aulu · Rating 2 out of 5]

Listakirja on listakirja. Olihan tässä hyvätkin hetkensä, mutta kun 70 kertaa listataan kivilohkareiden pituuksia ja painoja, niin tylsäksi käy väistämättä.

[Snail Guy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3

[Harry Adair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whilst this book is very informative I have knocked a star off as I feel this Is the wrong format for this book. This book requires reference images for each location whether they exist today or are solely artist renditions as mere text descriptions don’t do some of these ancient wonders justice. The Ziggurat of Ur is a marvellous structure but I would’ve appreciated a picture alongside the information. The fact-file is also interjected in very peculiar places. It jams itself in the middle instead of the end of a structures chapter. This book would be much better as a coffee table book instead of a small dinky paperback with ten photos instead of what could’ve been a great informational reference book.

[Sarah - All The Book Blog Names Are Taken · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful but brief snippets of information about so many remarkable locations around the world. Many of these places are already on my bucket list to visit, but I've added several more just from scouring this book. Amazing structures, if only we could know more.

[Will Fairey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very heavy on the construction and the architecture of each monument, but still really intriguing to have such an insight into so many incredible feats of engineering that I’d bet many are not familiar with.

[Cool]

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