Machu Picchu Research Paper

Massive hills roll through the land, stretching as far as the eye can see. Thick trees cover every spare inch of land not occupied by a building. Birds and other animals whoop and holler, as loud as sirens. Flowers bloom from every place imaginable. This is Machu Picchu, home of the Incan Empire, providing historical, architectural, and scientific significance to the world, leaving travelers in awe of its magnificence.
Machu Picchu is the site of many historical events. This “city in the clouds” was once capital of the mighty Incan empire (The Stones of Machu Picchu). Spanish conquistadores were the cause of the abandonment of this Incan stronghold (The Stones of Machu Picchu). Its creator (Emperor Manco II) left his beloved city in 1535 (The Stones of Machu Picchu). To this day, close to two hundred stone buildings are still standing, despite the fact that they are hundreds of years old (Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu). These structures have seen the reign of two great Incan leaders, Pachacutec Inca Yupanqui and Tupac Inca Yupanqui (Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu). Machu Picchu clearly has a rich history, with events stretching far back in time. The whole area is a monument to past events that have occurred throughout the Empire.
The entire city is divided into two parts, lower and upper. These keep the farming and residential area separate (Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu). In the farmer’s sector of the village, terrace slopes were made into massive hanging baskets for crops (Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu). There were also industrial, royal, and religious quarters (Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu). Buildings and other structures were made of large, white, blocks of granite, each weighing over ten tons (The Stones of Machu Picchu). The architecture and design of this city provide tourists with a glimpse of ancient