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Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

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Machu Picchu - the ancient city of the Inca Empire

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Machu Picchu is a mysterious Inca city built in the middle of the 15th century and the main attraction for which travelers go on tours in Peru. It is located about 100 km from the capital of the Inca Empire, the city of Cusco, in the mountains at an altitude of 2450 meters above sea level and it is…

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Guide to Machu Picchu for Children: Lost City of the Inca for Kids - FreeSchool

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Peru: Machu Picchu - Travel Kids in South America

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Virtually explore Machu Picchu in a fully immersive 360-degree experience.

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Niagara Falls Tour and fun Facts for kids.  educational videos for kids

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Get familiar with this Wonder that is right in your own State!

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Get familiar with this Wonder that is right in your own State!

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Niagara Falls Facts and Information : Fun Facts for Kids | Educational Videos by Mocomi

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WATCH WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A DRONE FLIES OVER NIAGARA FALLS!! 60fps

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Drone Footage Of Frozen Niagara Falls | NBC Nightly News

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Mummies and the Wonders of Ancient Egypt - Great Pyramids - TeacherTub

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Mummies and the Wonders of Ancient Egypt - Great Pyramids

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Kids learn about the civilization of ancient Egypt including the pharaohs, pyramids, art, government, geography, Nile River, mummies, religion, hieroglyphics, and clothing. Educational articles for students, schools, and teachers.

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Hidden Planet   Part 22   Inside the Pyramid of Giza

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20 Facts About The Great Pyramid of Giza - Please Like and Subscribe! Thanks guys --------- ► Subscribe to see new videos!

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The Great Pyramid's newest mystery - 360 Video

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Uncovering the ancient secrets of the Great Pyramid | 60 Minutes Australia

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Building the Pyramids of Egypt ...a detailed step by step guide.

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The Great Mystery About the Great Pyramids

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The Great Mystery About the Great Pyramids

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The Great Mistery of the Pyramids of Egypt | Kids Videos

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The Pyramids - 3D Virtual Tour

The Pyramids virtual tours can be started by clicking the preview window or by downloading the stand-alone versions. Just drag the mouse to the direction you want to look. Use the scroll wheel to zoom at the details. Press F9 to get a list of the 3D sites you downloaded (residing in the same directory). To install the listed sites as a screensaver press F5. Our advise is to install all the sites, including The Pyramids, as a screensaver. When the screensaver starts, a random site is chosen and shown around automatically (this gives the impression of looking at a documentary in HD quality). To see the usage of other keys press F1. Press Ecs to exit.

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Panorama shootings for The Pyramids were done in the year 2010. Shooting equipment was Nikon D90 digital camera, 10.5 mm fisheye lens, panoramic tripod head and a tripod. For The Pyramids more than 800 pictures were taken. The pictures that are taken for different angles are later combined using a computer to form a full 360 degree panoramic view, surrounding the viewer both horizontally and vertically.

History of The Pyramids

The Egyptian Pyramids were built as tombs for deceased Pharaohs and their consorts. For thousands of years they were the largest structures on earth. The earliest pyramid known is that of The Step Pyramid in Saqqara. It was built in the year 2650 B.C. Near the Step Pyramid there are many mastaba tombs belonging to the Pharaohs family. Unlike the rooms inside the Pyramids, their walls are richly decorated.

The best known pyramids are undoubtedly the ones at Giza. The largest of them is The Great Pyramid of Keops that was built around 2589 B.C. It is 145.75 meters high. It is also the only remaining "Seven Wonders of the Ancient World".

The Pyramid of Khafre (143.5 meters high) is believed to be built by Mycerinus, the son of Khafre. The Pyramid of Mycerinus that Mycerinus started building for himself is finished by his son Shepseskaf.

The Bent Pyramid in Dahshur is considered the first 'real' pyramid. It's limestone outer casing is largely in tact. Pharaoh Sneferu, who wasn't very happy with the Bent Pyramid, ordered the building of The Red Pyramid to the North.

Sun Boat Museum

In 1954 a real sized old Egyptian boat was found in a pit near the Great Pyramid. It took 14 years to put together the 1200 peaces using old materials like wooden nails and ropes of grass.

Credits

We would like to thank Mr. Mohamed Abdel Fatah, Mr. Ibrahim Ahmed Hussein and their family and friends for their support during our stay in Egypt.

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The Pyramids virtual tours can be started by clicking the preview window or by downloading the stand-alone versions. Just drag the mouse to the direction you want to look. Use the scroll wheel to zoom at the details. Press F9 to get a list of the 3D sites you downloaded (residing in the same directory).

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360° Travel inside the Great Pyramid of Giza - BBC

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Explore the Taj Mahal online using Virtual Travel, beautiful 360 degree photographic panoramas, movies, narration, music. English, French and Japanese.

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Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

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The Taj Mahal, India's architectural crown jewel, was built over 350 years ago by a powerful ruler in honor of his beloved wife. This monument is recognizable to people around the world because of its symmetry, white marble, and the love story that brought it to life. There is an unspoken beauty about this building that has captured hearts for generations, and is captivating people still. Millions of people around the world come to Google to learn more about the Taj Mahal, even if they may never have the chance to get there.

Now, the whole world can experience the Taj Mahal on Street View. From the comfort of your computer, tablet or phone, take a 360-degree journey around the Taj Mahal as if you were walking around the building itself. Enjoy postcard views or discover rarely-seen perspectives; get up close to the hand-carved details and explore expansive landscapes. The Taj Mahal is just one of many locations in India collected by the Street View Trekker. Now people around the world can take a virtual journey to visit historical monuments like the Red Fort and Humayun's Tomb. Experience the beauty and wonder of India's world-renowned treasures, now on Google Maps.

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The Taj Mahal, India's architectural crown jewel, was built over 350 years ago by a powerful ruler in honor of his beloved wife. This monument is recognizable to people around the world because of its symmetry, white marble, and the love story that brought it to life.

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In 1997 famous Frenchman Bertran photographed Taj Mahal from a helicopter. Since that moment nobody else has been able to get a permission to shoot the Indian landmark from air for 15 years. AirPano has achieved the impossible - for the first time in world's history we created a virtual aerial photo tour of Taj Mahal, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World...

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Learn interesting information about the Taj Mahal with fun facts for kids. Find out about Taj Mahal history and improve your knowledge with DK Find Out.

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Educational Videos for Students (Cartoons on Bullying, Leadership & More)

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Taj Mahal Facts for Kids! Learn about a top tourist attraction built on love: Taj Mahal

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The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum located on the south bank of the Yamuna river in the Indian city of Agra.

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Learn About the History of the Taj Mahal

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Learn About the History of the Taj Mahal

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The Taj Mahal is an enormous mausoleum complex commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to house the remains of his beloved wife. Constructed over a 20-year period on the southern bank of the Yamuna River in Agra, India, the famed complex is one of the most outstanding examples of Mughal architecture, which combined Indian, Persian and Islamic influences. At its center is the Taj Mahal itself, built of shimmering white marble that seems to change color depending on the daylight. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983, it remains one of the world's most celebrated structures and a stunning symbol of India's rich history.

Shah Jahan

Shah Jahan was a member of the Mughal dynasty that ruled most of northern India from the early 16th to the mid 18th-century. After the death of his father, King Jahangir, in 1627, Shah Jahan emerged the victor of a bitter power struggle with his brothers, and crowned himself emperor at Agra in 1628.

At his side was Arjumand Banu Begum, better known as Mumtaz Mahal ("Chosen One of the Palace"), whom he married in 1612 and cherished as the favorite of his three queens.

In 1631, Mumtaz Mahal died after giving birth to the couple's 14th child. The grieving Shah Jahan, known for commissioning a number of impressive structures throughout his reign, ordered the building of a magnificent mausoleum across the Yamuna River from his own royal palace at Agra.

Construction began around 1632 and would continue for the next two decades. The chief architect was probably Ustad Ahmad Lahouri, an Indian of Persian descent who would later be credited with designing the Red Fort at Delhi.

In all, more than 20,000 workers from India, Persia, Europe and the Ottoman Empire, along with some 1,000 elephants, were brought in to build the mausoleum complex.

Design and Construction of the Taj Mahal

Named the Taj Mahal in honor of Mumtaz Mahal, the mausoleum was constructed of white marble inlaid with semi-precious stones (including jade, crystal, lapis lazuli, amethyst and turquoise) forming intricate designs in a technique known as pietra dura.

Its central dome reaches a height of 240 feet (73 meters) and is surrounded by four smaller domes; four slender towers, or minarets, stood at the corners. In accordance with the traditions of Islam, verses from the Quran were inscribed in calligraphy on the arched entrances to the mausoleum, in addition to numerous other sections of the complex.

Inside the mausoleum, an octagonal marble chamber adorned with carvings and semi-precious stones housed the cenotaph, or false tomb, of Mumtaz Mahal. The real sarcophagus containing her actual remains lay below, at garden level.

The rest of the Taj Mahal complex included a main gateway of red sandstone and a square garden divided into quarters by long pools of water, as well as a red sandstone mosque and an identical building called a jawab (or "mirror") directly across from the mosque. Traditional Mughal building practice would allow no future alterations to be made to the complex.

As the story goes, Shah Jahan intended to build a second grand mausoleum across the Yamuna River from the Taj Mahal, where his own remains would be buried when he died; the two structures were to have been connected by a bridge.

In fact, Aurangzeb (Shah Jahan's third son with Mumtaz Mahal) deposed his ailing father in 1658 and took power himself. Shah Jahan lived out the last years of his life under house arrest in a tower of the Red Fort at Agra, with a view of the majestic resting place he had constructed for his wife; when he died in 1666, he was buried next to her.

Taj Mahal Over the Years

Under Aurangzeb's long rule (1658-1707), the Mughal empire reached the height of its strength. However, his militant Muslim policies, including the destruction of many Hindu temples and shrines, undermined the enduring strength of the empire and led to its demise by the mid-18th century.

Even as Mughal power crumbled, the Taj Mahal suffered from neglect and disrepair in the two centuries after Shah Jahan's death. Near the turn of the 19th century, Lord Curzon, then British viceroy of India, ordered a major restoration of the mausoleum complex as part of a colonial effort to preserve India's artistic and cultural heritage.

Today, some 3 million people a year (or around 45,000 a day during peak tourist season) visit the Taj Mahal.

Air pollution from nearby factories and automobiles poses a continual threat to the mausoleum's gleaming white marble façade, and in 1998, India's Supreme Court ordered a number of anti-pollution measures to protect the building from deterioration. Some factories were closed, while vehicular traffic was banned from the immediate vicinity of the complex.

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Taj Mahal - Location, Timeline & Architect

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The Taj Mahal is an enormous mausoleum complex commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to house the remains of his beloved wife. Constructed over a 20-year period on the southern bank of the Yamuna River in Agra, India, the famed complex is one of the most outstanding examples of Mughal architecture.

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WatchKnowLearn - Free K-12 educational videos

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Free K-12 educational videos ... organized. Tens of thousands of excellent, educational videos in a huge, intuitive directory. Organized, reviewed, rated, and described by teachers. Ideal as a supplement to a curriculum or for independent study. Designed for teachers, students, parents, homeschoolers, educators ... and all life-long learners!

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WatchKnowLearn - Free K-12 educational videos

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Free K-12 educational videos ... organized. Tens of thousands of excellent, educational videos in a huge, intuitive directory. Organized, reviewed, rated, and described by teachers. Ideal as a supplement to a curriculum or for independent study. Designed for teachers, students, parents, homeschoolers, educators ... and all life-long learners!

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WatchKnowLearn - Free K-12 educational videos

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Free K-12 educational videos ... organized. Tens of thousands of excellent, educational videos in a huge, intuitive directory. Organized, reviewed, rated, and described by teachers. Ideal as a supplement to a curriculum or for independent study. Designed for teachers, students, parents, homeschoolers, educators ... and all life-long learners!

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Taj Mahal Facts

Enjoy our range of fun Taj Mahal facts for kids. Learn who it was built for, what the name means, how long it took to build, what it is made from, where it is located and much more.

Read on and enjoy interesting information and fun trivia about the Taj Mahal, a World Heritage Site often referred to as one of the seven wonders of the modern world.

The Taj Mahal is a famous mausoleum in India.

A mausoleum is a building that contains burial chambers (tombs) for the deceased, they can be large or small and are often created in honor of influential people.

The Taj Mahal is located in Agra, a city in the Uttar Pradesh region of northern India.

It was built as the final resting place for Mumtaz Mahal, the third wife of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan.

The name Taj Mahal means "crown of palaces".

Construction of the Taj Mahal took around 20 years, beginning around 1632 and finishing around 1653.

The Taj Mahal is made of white marble.

One of the Taj Mahal's most recognizable features is a large white dome that is often called an 'onion dome' due to its shape. It has a height of around 35 metres (115 feet) and is surrounded by 4 smaller domes.

The full height of the Taj Mahal is 171 metres (561 feet).

The Taj Mahal is considered to be one of India's most admired works of art, as well as a famous landmark and a tourist attraction that draws millions of visitors every year.

The Taj Mahal complex includes a large garden, a reflecting pool, a mosque and other mausoleums.

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Taj Mahal Facts for Kids - Interesting Information about the Taj Mahal in India

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Taj Mahal Facts Enjoy our range of fun Taj Mahal facts for kids. Learn who it was built for, what the name means, how long it took to build, what it is made from, where it is located and much more.

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All About Mount Everest Fun Geography Facts for Kids. Learn more all about Mount Everest with our fun facts on earth science. Fun Kids Science Facts.

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Geography for Kids: Top of the World - Mount Everest

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Mount Everest Facts and  History - Fun Facts for Kids | Educational Videos by Mocomi

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Digital story about Mount Everest, created af

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Check out this short video that shows a group of climbers making the final ascent to the summit of Mt Everest. Standing at an incredible 8,848 meters (29,029 ft) above sea level, Mt Everest is the highest mountain on Earth.

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Trek to Everest Basecamp - The Full Experience!

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Mt Everest virtual Climb  Amazing video!!

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The Youngest Person to Climb Mount Everest! You can do it too!

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The Youngest Person to Climb Mount Everest! You can do it too!

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Jordan Romero: Reaching the Top - The Youngest Kid to Climb Mount Everest

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As children, our crazy imaginations wander into what certain adventures would be like, but as we get older we soon forget about those dreams and get caught up in our everyday lives. However, the storyline goes a little different for Jordan Romero.

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Everything Everest from National Geographic Adventure

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Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

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How and Why the Great Wall of China Was Really Built

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The Great Wall of China is more than just a part of history, it's part of the world's geography. But why did the Chinese go to such lengths to build it? And what secrets have enabled it to survive for over 2,000 years?

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The History of the Great Wall of China for Kids - FreeSchool

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Dragon dances have been performed in China for over 2,000 years and are believed to bring about good fortune.

OFFICIAL NAME: People's Republic of China

FORM OF GOVERNMENT: Communist state

CAPITAL: Beijing (Peking)

POPULATION: 1,397,897,720

OFFICIAL LANGUAGES: Standard Chinese, Mandarin

MONEY: Yuan (or renminbi)

AREA: 3,705,405 square miles (9,596,960 square kilometers)

MAJOR MOUNTAIN RANGES: Himalaya

MAJOR RIVERS: Yangtze, Yellow

Stretching 3,100 miles (5,000 kilometers) from east to west and 3,400 miles (5,500 kilometers) from north to south, China is a large country with widely varying landscapes. Its territory includes mountains, high plateaus, sandy deserts, and dense forests.

One-third of China's land area is made up of mountains. The tallest mountain on Earth, Mount Everest, sits on the border between China and Nepal.

China has thousands of rivers. The Yangtze and the Yellow Rivers are the most important. At 3,915 miles (6,300 kilometers) long, the Yangtze is the world's third largest river.
Map created by National Geographic Maps

PEOPLE & CULTURE

With a population of 1.4 billion, China has more people than any other country on Earth. About a third of the population lives in cities. The rest of the people live in the country.

Arts and crafts have a long history in China. Thousands of years ago the Chinese were some of the first people to use silk, jade, bronze, wood, and paper to make art. The artistic writing called calligraphy was invented in China.

Much of China's modern beliefs and philosophies are based on the teachings of a government official who lived nearly 3,000 years ago. Kongfuzi, also known as Confucius, taught people the value of such things as morality, kindness, and education.

China's diverse habitats are home to hundreds of species of animals and plants. More than 3,800 species of fish and hundreds of amphibians and reptile species live in the rivers, lakes, and coastal waters.

China's forest wildlife is threatened by logging and clear-cutting (clearing the land of all trees) for farmland. Expanding deserts in the north also shrink animal habitats. The Chinese government has created more than 1,200 reserves to protect plant and animal species.

The giant panda lives in the misty mountains of southwest China and nowhere else on Earth. They eat bamboo and usually live near stands of the woody evergreen plant. Pandas have been hunted and only about 1,600 remain in the wild.

GOVERNMENT & ECONOMY

China is an authoritarian state ruled by a very powerful central government. A huge workforce and lots of natural resources have driven economic change. This has forced the communist government to permit more economic and personal freedoms, but it has come at a huge cost to the environment.

Many experts predict that the 21st century will be the "Chinese century." Whether or not that proves to be true, there is no doubt that what happens in China will affect many other nations.

China is the home of one of the world's oldest civilizations, but it has only recently become a "modern" nation. In the last 20 years, China has changed faster than any other country in the world.

Chinese history is divided into dynasties, each of which marks the period when a line of emperors ruled. The first empire was the Qin dynasty and began in 221 B.C. The last emperor was overthrown in 1912, and China became a republic. The communist government began its rule in 1949 following a civil war with the Chinese Nationalists.

Ancient China was a land of invention. For centuries, China was way ahead of most other countries in science and technology, astronomy, and math. The Chinese invented paper, the magnetic compass, printing, porcelain, silk, and gunpowder, among other things.

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China Country Profile - National Geographic Kids

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Dragon dances have been performed in China for over 2,000 years and are believed to bring about good fortune.

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In the China video I used PhtoStory3 for pict

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iClone software allows for character creation

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Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

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Roman scribes claim that at some of the Colosseum games, the arena was filled with water to stage naval battles. The building and it's basements have been altered extensively since, so it is unknown how water was pumped into the main arena.

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Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

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Diving Osprey & Great Barrier Reef 2014 - Shark Feeding Frenzy, Manta Ray, Olive Sea Snakes...

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great barrier reef (geographical feature)

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GoPro HD Scuba diving Great Barrier Reef

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Scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef, Agincourt Reef with my GoPro HERO3 Black edition

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Best Snorkeling Australia Great Barrier Reef

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great barrier reef (geographical feature)

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Great Barrier Reef Dive & Snorkel - Port Douglas Australia

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Join me for the experience of a lifetime - diving and snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Port Douglas with Poseidon Reef Cruises.

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The Great Barrier Reef - Facts & Information | Mocomi Kids

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http://mocomi.com/ presents: The Great Barrier Reef - Facts Facts about the World's Largest Coral Reef System- The Great Barrier Reef is the largest living structure in the world. It can be seen by astronauts from outer space. It is composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands, that stretch over 2,600 kilometres.

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New Species Found at Great Barrier Reef | National Geographic

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The largest living structure, the Great Barrier Reef spans more than 1,200 miles (2,000 kilometers) of islands and submerged reefs. A plethora of coral thrives here, along with a sweep of parrotfish, surgeonfish, barracuda, and sharks. Narrated by National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Sylvia Earle.

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Exploring the Coral Reef: Learn about Oceans for Kids - FreeSchool

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What is the largest living thing on earth? It's not a whale or an elephant. It's the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Australia, - the world's largest coral reef. The Great Barrier Reef can be seen from outer space and is the world's biggest single structure made by living organisms.

This coral reef consists of over 2,500 individual reefs and 900 islands. The reef is home to 400 different kinds of coral, as well as fish, birds, worms and crustaceans. Sea turtles and birds come here to lay their eggs and butterflies come in swarms to rest over the winter.

Fun Facts About the Great Barrier Reef for Kids

Coral are marine animals that make calcium carbonate, which forms a hard shell.

The shells build up creating coral reefs.

Coral reefs provide shelter for thousands of animals.

The Great Barrier Reef is a world heritage site. It is protected from fishing.

The Great Barrier Reef is at least 20,000 years old.

The Great Barrier Reef Vocabulary

All About The Great Barrier Reef Video for Kids

This is the best video we found for kids to learn about the Great Barrier Reef:

The Great Barrier Reef Q&A

Question: Is the Great Barrier Reef an animal?

Answer: The Great Barrier Reef is made of millions of coral. It is bigger than the Great Wall of China and it can be seen from space.

Enjoyed the Natural Science for Kids Website all about the Great Barrier Reef info? Take the FREE & fun Great Barrier Reef quiz and download FREE all about the Great Barrier Reef worksheet for kids. For lengthy info click here.

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What is the largest living thing on earth? It's not a whale or an elephant. It's the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Australia, - the world's largest coral reef. The Great Barrier Reef can be seen from outer space and is the world's biggest single structure made by living organisms. This coral reef consists of over 2,500 individual reefs and 900 islands.

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Great Barrier Reef: Endangered Animals for kids

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Australia's Great Barrier Reef: Learn about coral, sea turtles, whales and more!

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Fun and Interesting Great Barrier Reef Facts for Kids & Adults

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Read our post for Great Barrier Reef facts and answers to frequently asked questions about this spectacular natural wonder.

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Great Barrier Reef Facts

Check out our Great Barrier Reef facts for kids. Enjoy a range of colourful pictures, interesting information and fun trivia related to the largest coral reef system in the world. Learn about the amazing marine life, where the Great Barrier Reef is, how climate change could affect it and much more.

The Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef system in the world.

It is found in the Coral Sea, off the coast of Queensland, Australia.

The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest living structure.

It is made up of around 2900 individual reefs and 900 islands.

The Great Barrier Reef is around 2600 kilometres (1616 miles) in length.

Astronauts can see the Great Barrier Reef from space.

Marine animals called coral play an important role in the formation of the Great Barrier Reef.

Coral create calcium carbonate which forms a hard, shell-like skeleton.

The Great Barrier Reef is home to a wide range of life, including fish, sea turtles, giant clam, seahorse, sea snakes, nudibranch, sea turtles, stingray, sharks and many more.

Over 1500 different species of fish live in the Great Barrier Reef, including clownfish, star of the animated film Finding Nemo.

Whales, dolphins and dugong can also be seen in the Great Barrier Reef.

Climate change is perhaps the biggest threat to the Great Barrier Reef.

Warmer ocean temperatures put stress on coral and lead to coral bleaching.

The Great Barrier Reef is a popular tourist destination with around 2 million visitors every year.

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Great Barrier Reef Facts for Kids - Pictures & Information

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Great Barrier Reef Facts Check out our Great Barrier Reef facts for kids. Enjoy a range of colourful pictures, interesting information and fun trivia related to the largest coral reef system in the world. Learn about the amazing marine life, where the Great Barrier Reef is, how climate change could affect it and much more.

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Fly from PS 11 to the Colossem

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Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

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Colosseum History, Facts and Secrets - Fun Facts for Kids | Educational Videos by Mocomi

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The Roman Colosseum, originally called the Flavian Amphitheater, is nearly two thousand years old! It was built to house gladiators in combat, animal hunts, executions, and even mock sea battles, complete with full-sized ships. It was a marvel of engineering and design, and remained in use as an arena for about 500 years.

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History of the Roman Colosseum for Kids: All About the Colosseum for Children - FreeSchool

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Do you enjoy watching sports? Love cheering on your favourite team or athlete? Well, gang - so did the Ancient Romans!
Join National Geographic Kids as we head back in time to visit one of the world's most famous historical sites and sports arenas - the Colosseum. Let the games begin!

1) The Colosseum was built between 72 A.D and 80 A.D under the Emperor Vespasian, in the heart of Ancient Rome.

2) Made from stone and concrete, this magnificent monument was built with the man power of tens of thousands of slaves.

3) The Colosseum is the largest amphitheater (meaning "theatre in the round") in the world! Oval in shape, it measures 189m long, 156m wide and 50m high (about the height of a 12 storey building). This ancient sporting arena could easily fit a modern day football pitch inside!

4) This brilliant building had 80 entrances and could seat approximately 50,000 spectators who would come to watch sporting events and games. These events included gladiatorial combats, wild animal hunts and, believe it or not, ship naval battles!

5) Free for all! At the Colosseum's major events - often those organised and paid for by the emperors themselves - there was no entry fee. And free food was sometimes served, too. Bonus! Emperors would use this as a way to gain popularity and support from the public.

6) The event at the Colosseum were seriously brutal, though - during certain games held by the emperors around 10,000 animals were killed in a single day.

7) The first games ever to be held were in 80 A.D, under Emperor Titus (the son of Vespasian), and they ran for 100 days straight. Games continued to be held for centuries to come - gladiatorial games until the fifth century and animal hunts until the 6th century.

8) To protect the spectators from the blistering sun and heat of Ancient Rome, there was the - an awning that could be pulled over the top of the seating area to provide shade. Clever, eh?

9) Below the Colosseum were numerous rooms and underground passages. Here is where the animals and gladiators were kept, waiting to meet their fate in the arena above. There were also 36 trap doors in the arena for special effects!

10) Although two-thirds of the colosseum has been destroyed over time - mostly the result of vandalism, earthquakes and fires - it is today a popular tourist site, attracting thousands of people every year!

With many thanks to Dr Dirk Booms of the British Museum. To step back in time and find out more about Ancient Rome and other fascinating civilisations, be sure to visit the British Museum, London.

Photos: Getty Images UK

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10 facts about the Colosseum! - National Geographic Kids

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Discover ten fascinating facts about the Colosseum of Ancient Rome here at NG Kids - when it was built, the events held there, how big it was and more!

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One of the Seven Wonders of the World

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The Colosseum

Background of the Colosseum

The Colosseum or Flavian Amphitheater is an amphitheater built during the time of Roman Empire in Rome, Italy.

It is widely believed that Colosseum was the biggest and grandest amphitheater in the entire Roman Empire.

It could house around eighty thousand spectators. Colosseum was built by the first Flavian emperor, Vespasian.

The construction started in 70 BC and did not finish during Vespasian's reign.

Titus, Vespasian's successor completed the construction in 80 BC.

Titus' successor, Domitian also made some modifications to the original structure.

History of the Colosseum

The Colosseum was built after Roman victory in the First Roman-Jewish war.

The construction was funded by the spoils of the war, specially from the Jewish Temple after the decisive Siege of Jerusalem.

The amphitheater was named Flavian Amphitheater but was popularly known as The Colosseum, owing to its close proximity to the famous Colossus of Nero.

What is the Colosseum made from

The Colosseum is built of stones and concrete.

It had four main floors with eighty arches each.

The first three stories were completed during the reign of Vespasian but the top floor was completed by Titus, who also inaugurated it in 80 AD.

Historians report that over 9000 wild animals were killed in inaugural games held at the Colosseum and specially designed commemorative coinage was also issued to celebrate the inauguration.

Emperor Domitian built a series of underground tunnels beneath the surface of Colosseum for slaves and animals.

He also added a gallery on top to increase the housing capacity.

Inside the Colosseum

The theater is elliptical in shape and the outer walls were built to a height of 157 feet.

It has a perimeter of 1788 feet. According to Codex-Calendar of 354 AD, theater had a capacity seating for 87,000 people.

However, modern estimates show a maximum capacity of 50,000.

The main arena was 180 feet wide and 287 feet long.

There were special seating boxes for emperor and the sacred Vestal Virgins.

Their seating location provided best view of the arena. Special seating locations were also provided to senators.

The nobles were seated closer to the main arena while the public was accommodated at the upper tiers.

Colosseum's structure has been damaged over the centuries by earthquakes and stone-robbers and it continues to exist in the same dilapidated state.

It was damaged severely in the 1349 earthquake.

As a result the outer southern portion collapsed and the rubble was used for building many other structures in Rome.

What was the Colosseum used for?

The Colosseum was mainly used for gladiator fights.

It was the most popular site of gladiator games.

It was also used for wild beast hunts.
Wild animals like
These were all hunted in the arena in front of excited spectators.

It is also believed that mock sea battles were also fought by filling up the arena with water.

Famous sea battles were reenacted in these mock battles.

Apart from martial sports and games, the theater was also used to stage dramas based on Roman mythology.

Romans also used the venue for executing condemned criminals

These criminals were made to fight each other or gladiators in fights to death.

Well trained and equipped gladiators mostly emerged victorious and executed the criminals in a gruesome manner, to the delight of excited and charged crowd.

Romans stopped using Colosseum for entertainment purposes in early medieval time (5th Century AD).

After that it was used as a fortress, workshops, housing poor and even as a Christian shrine.

Colosseum in Modern Times

The Colosseum is an iconic symbol of Rome's cultural and historic significance.

It is one of the most visited sites in Italy. Hundreds of thousands of tourists come to visit Colosseum annually.

Many concerts have been held outside Colosseum which were attended by thousands of people.

Colosseum is also depicted on Italian version of five cent Euro coin.

In 2007, Colosseum was chosen as one of the New 7 wonders of the world.

The selection was through an online poll and voters had to choose from 200 existing monuments worldwide.

For centuries, Colosseum has remained the face of Roman imperialism.

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Background of the Colosseum The Colosseum or Flavian Amphitheater is an amphitheater built during the time of Roman Empire in Rome, Italy. It is widely believed that Colosseum was the biggest and grandest amphitheater in the entire Roman Empire. It could house around eighty thousand spectators.

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The Colosseum

History >> Ancient Rome
The Colosseum is a giant amphitheatre in the center of Rome, Italy. It was built during the Roman Empire.

Roman Colosseum by Kevin Brintnall

When was it built?

Construction on the Colosseum was started in 72 AD by the emperor Vespasian. It was finished eight years later in 80 AD.

How big was it?

The Colosseum was huge. It could seat 50,000 people. It covers around 6 acres of land and is 620 feet long, 512 feet wide, and 158 feet tall. It took more than 1.1 million tons of concrete, stone, and bricks to complete the Colosseum.

Seating

Where people sat in the Colosseum was determined by Roman law. The best seats were reserved for the Senators. Behind them were the equestrians or ranking government officials. A bit higher up sat the ordinary Roman citizens (men) and the soldiers. Finally, at the top of the stadium sat the slaves and the women.

Seating inside the Colosseum was according to social status
by Ningyou at Wikimedia Commons

Emperor's Box

The best seat in the house belonged to the emperor who sat in the Emperor's Box. Of course, a lot of times it was the emperor who was paying for the games. This was one way for the emperor to make the people happy and to keep them liking him.

Underground Passages

Below the Colosseum was a labyrinth of underground passages called the hypogeum. These passages allowed for animals, actors, and gladiators to suddenly appear in the middle of the arena. They would use trap doors to add in special effects such as scenery.

Construction

The walls of the Colosseum were built with stone. They made use of a number of arches in order to keep the weight down, but yet still keep them strong. There were four different levels that could be accessed by stairs. Who could enter each level was carefully controlled. The floor of the Colosseum was wooden and covered with sand.

Interior of the Colosseum. Photo by Jebulon.

Colossus

Outside of the Colosseum was an enormous 30 foot bronze statue of the emperor Nero called the Colossus of Nero. It was later turned into a statue of the Sun god Sol Invictus. Some historians believe that the name for the Colosseum comes from the Colossus.

The Velarium

To keep the hot sun and the rain off of spectators, there was a retractable awning called the velarium. There were 240 wooden masts around the top of the stadium to support the awning. Roman sailors were used to put up the velarium when it was needed.

Entrances

The Colosseum had 76 entrances and exits. This was to help the thousands of people to exit the arena in case of a fire or other emergency. The passages to the seating areas were called vomitoria. The public entrances were each numbered and spectators had a ticket that said where they were supposed to enter.

Why is it spelled that way?

The original name for the Colosseum was the Amphitheatrum Flavium, but it eventually became known as the Colosseum. The normal spelling for a generic large amphitheater used for sports and other entertainment is "coliseum". However, when referring to the one in Rome, it is capitalized and spelled "Colosseum".

Interesting Facts about the Colosseum

Certain classes of people were banned from attending the Colosseum. They included former gladiators, actors, and gravediggers.

There were 32 different trap doors underneath the floor of the stadium.

The first ever games at the Colosseum lasted for 100 days and included more than 3,000 gladiator fights.

The west exit was called the Gate of Death. This was where dead gladiators were carried out of the arena.

The southern side of the Colosseum collapsed during a large earthquake in 847.

Activities

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Works Cited

History >> Ancient Rome

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Kids learn about the Colosseum of Ancient Rome. A huge amphitheatre for gladiator fights and other entertainment.

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A day in the life of a Roman soldier - Robert Garland