27 Jun Largest Construction Projects in History
Throughout history, humans have pushed the limits of what is possible with the tools and resources they have been given. The result of this undying curiosity and determination is construction projects of the grandest scale.
Spanning from previous millennia, all the way up to present day, enormous projects, infrastructures and monuments have been built by humans. The purpose of each construction was for a multitude of reasons. Sacred sites, cities, tombs and monuments for international acclaim all appear on the list of largest projects in the world. Here are some of the largest construction projects that have been created throughout history!
The Great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China is one of the largest construction projects ever undertaken and holds the distinction of being the longest as well! The building of the Great Wall began in about 400 B.C and was completed in about A.D 1600 – that’s 2,000 years!
Construction started and stalled and restarted as dynasties rose and fell throughout Chinese history. At times, the Great Wall was a military fortification against northern tribes, and at times a largely ignored relic. However, its 13,000 miles have grown to be recognized as a symbol of the enduring strength of China throughout millennia.
The Burj Khalifa in Dubai
Construction on the Burj Khalifa, originally titled the Burj Dubai, began in 2004 and was completed in 2009. The soaring skyscraper is part of a mixed-use development.
At 2,716.5 feet tall with over 160 stories, the Burj Khalifa swept several world records at its opening. These include tallest building in the world, tallest freestanding structure in the world, and tallest service elevator in the world. The construction project was designed to diversify Dubai’s global presence, and bring international acclaim to the oil magnate county.
Chichen Itza
The construction of this Mayan site took 400 years and resulted in one of the great cities of Mesoamerica. The population of this city was incredibly diverse, which lends itself to the diverse architecture throughout the city.
Although this elite city bustled in its time, it had entered decline by the time Spanish Conquistadors arrived in Mexico.The heavy population and curious architecture inspired them to establish a capital nearby.
International Space Station
The station is expected to operate until 2028, with continual servicing and improvements. Another fun fact is the space station orbits the earth every 92 minutes.
The first component of the International Space Station was launched 1998, and modules and components are launched and fitted regularly. The huge space station is comprised of two segments, the Russian Orbital Segment, and the United States Orbital Segment. The United States segment is shared by many other nations.
Great Pyramid of Giza
The Great Pyramid of Giza is the oldest and one of the only original seven wonders of the world that is still intact, although erosion has depleted its height by about 30 feet.
The giant tomb was built over a period of about 10-20 years and was the tallest building in the world for 3,800 years. The construction techniques are debated, but historians believe the enormous slabs were quarried and transported right from the quarry. Regardless, the coordination and movement of the huge slabs to the site, and movement into place in primitive Egypt, was a colossal achievement for its time. Plus, the construction clearly has lasted intact for a millennium, leading some conspiracy theorists to believe aliens were involved in construction.