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Museums are a good way to revisit history. However, they might not be enough for a true history buff. According to Mark Roemer, visiting ancient sites and ruins of the past brings you true satisfaction since the past comes partially alive right in front of you. Here are some of the places you must visit when learning ancient history:
- Giza Plateau in Egypt – Anyone who is remotely interested in ancient history knows that the Giza Plateau is the mecca for history enthusiasts. It is home to iconic monuments that stood the test of time and still makes people from around the world curious about Ancient Egyptian architecture. Some of the most remarkable monuments on the banks of river Nile may be the Great Sphinx and the Great Pyramid of Giza. There are also several buildings and temples that paint a picture of the Old Kingdom.
- Athens in Greece – Often hailed as the birthplace of democracy, Athens is one of the most iconic cities and standing relics of Ancient Greece. It is also the home of Acropolis that nurtured freedom of thought and also has the famous Propylea as its entrance. As the city was named after Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom, courage, and strength, you would also find small temples dedicated to her. The iconic Pantheon also stands as the greatest dedication the goddess ever had to her name.
- Shaanxi in China – Every history lover should have the Terracotta Army on their itinerary and this marvelous wonder sits with great majesty in Shaanxi, China. The warriors are life-sized and stand with the same disposition and battle formations as the imperial guard of 200 BCE. You should also check out the museum at the site to learn about the rich history of warriors immortalized by clay. The sculptures were made to portray the armies of Qin Shi Huang of the Qin Dynasty, the first emperor of China, and were buried along with him.
- Machu Picchu in Peru – Machu Picchu is one of the greatest and renowned remnants of the Inca civilization, located in the Andes mountains. The city served the Incas for a century until it was abandoned by the Incas in the late sixteenth century to protect themselves from the Spanish conquistadors. You really have to earn your visit to Machu Picchu since it requires you to make months of preparation to hike your way up a 4-day long trek.
- Angkor in Cambodia – Angkor was once the power center of most of Southeast Asia. It served as the capital of the Khmer empire for quite some time and has spectacular buildings with numerous historical relics that each have an interesting tale. Apart from visiting Angkor Wat, the iconic temple in the city, you should also add the amazing maze of Preah Khan to your itinerary.
Mark Roemer believes you should also visit sites like the Petra in Jordan, Stonehenge in England, Rome in Italy, and Chichen Itza in Mexico to satiate the curious archeologist or history buff in you.