Overview

Travel the world as you discover more of the most unforgettable works of architecture, archaeological ruins, feats of engineering, masterworks of art, and the greatest natural wonders of our planet.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designates and brings attention to World Heritage sites across our planet—special places in the world that stand as superlative creations of human genius and of nature. World Heritage sites are considered to hold global significance for all of humankind—places that bear witness to the development of our civilization and our remarkable ecosphere.

Our first foray into World Heritage sites, World Heritage Sites: Exploring the World’s Greatest Places, celebrated UNESCO’s remarkable initiative, exploring a rich sampling of these sites across the globe. In this exciting sequel of 12 thrilling lectures, World Heritage Sites II: 12 More of the World’s Greatest Places, expert historian Professor Jacobs introduces you to a dozen more extraordinary treasures of archaeology, architecture, art, engineering, and the natural world. As before, his richly diverse itinerary takes you around the world and across a wide span of history:

• The Great Wall(s) of China: Highlighting the iconic walls of the Ming Dynasty emperors, study their majestic architecture and dramatic history.

• The West Norwegian Fjords: Travel these globally beloved waterways within Norway’s coastal mountains and witness their breathtaking scenery and reflections of Norwegian cultural history.

• India’s Incredible Mountain Railways: Make the trek into the Himalayas mountain range and the Nilgiri Mountains and learn about the ingenious engineering that enables the trains to ascend soaring mountains.

• Sacred Bagan of Myanmar: Delve into the history of the mighty Bagan Empire and visit a range of the kingdom’s 3,000 Buddhist temples, shrines, and stupas.

• Old Havana of Cuba: Discover what makes Havana an extraordinary architectural treasure, as you uncover the layers of history in its elegant plazas, boulevards, imposing forts, churches, and mansions.

• Brazil’s Futurist Capital: Brasília: Investigate the utopian vision of Brasília’s modernist architects and planners and visit its phenomenal municipal and residential structures.

Each of these treasured World Heritage sites is unique. And each one tells you something exceptional about life on our planet.

Course Structure

01: Ethiopia’s Rock-Hewn Churches

Begin the course with the astonishing churches of Lalibela, carved entirely from a single mass of volcanic rock. Trace the fascinating story of how Christianity was introduced in Ethiopia, and the traditions of stone carving that produced the rock-hewn churches. Travel the site of the 11 churches, and marvel at their elaborate architecture and the superlative artwork that adorns them.

Duration: 32 min

02: The West Norwegian Fjords

Norway’s fjords, waterways within massive fissures in the country’s coastal mountains, are renowned throughout the world for their dramatic scenery. Explore the geography and geology of the fjords, and their vital role in Norway’s history, in commerce and transport. Experience the sublime natural beauty of the Sognefjord, the Geirangerfjord, and Nærøyfjord, and their distinct landscapes.

Duration: 30 min

03: The Great Wall(s) of China

Discover that the “Great Wall of China” is in fact a series of discontinuous walls, built across different centuries and routes. Learn about the earliest of the walls, and the geopolitical reasons for building them. Then focus on the iconic walls of the Ming Dynasty, so famous today. Study their structural features, the areas where they were built, and how the walls were manned and defended.

Duration: 30 min

04: Mountain Railways of India

Travel to the Indian Himalayas, on some of the world’s most unusual railways. Learn how British colonial railways were built for travel to “hill stations,” away from the lowland’s sweltering heat. Learn about the engineering feats that allowed the trains to scale the steep mountains. Visit the Darjeeling, Shimla, and “Ooty” railways, all with breathtaking views, which still use 19th- and early 20th-century railroad technology.

Duration: 30 min

05: Old Havana, Heart of Cuba’s Capital

Relive the history of this storied New World port, from its founding in 1519 to the 20th century, and get to know the grand plazas, avenues, and sumptuous buildings that make Old Havana an architectural treasure trove. Take in its four defensive forts; the Plaza de Armas; Malecón boulevard; and the colonial mansions, churches, and municipal edifices, which enchant visitors from around the world.

Duration: 30 min

06: Bagan, Sacred Landscape of Myanmar

On the plains of central Myanmar lie the remains of the mighty Bagan Empire, a landscape containing nearly 3,000 Buddhist temples, stupas, and monasteries. Trace the history of Bagan, and its royal tradition of religious monument building. View the superb architecture of the Thatbyinnyu, Ananda, and Shwezigon temples, and others, which comprise one of the most remarkable sights of Southeast Asia.

Duration: 31 min

07: Samarra of Iraq and the Abbasid Caliphate

The desert city of Samarra contains the architectural blueprint for the Muslim imperial world. Take the measure of the powerful Abbasid caliphs that ruled in Baghdad, later building Samarra in AD 836 as a showcase city. Explore the remains of the ornate Dar al-Khalifa palace, the luxurious pleasure gardens and waterworks, Abbasid decorative arts, and magnificent mosques that adorn the site.

Duration: 29 min

08: China’s Holy Peaks at Mounts Tai and Emei

Delve into the Chinese tradition of religious pilgrimage on two of its most sacred mountains. First visit Mount Tai, and trace the pilgrims’ route to the top, past auspicious temples, shrines, and inscriptions. Then travel Mount Emei, China’s most important Buddhist mountain. Follow the path to the temples of the Golden Summit, and take in the cliffs, grottoes, and superlative views along the way.

Duration: 29 min

09: Japan’s Himeji, the White Heron Castle

Learn about the political and military culture of Japan under the Shoguns that gave rise to castle-building. Track the events that led to the construction of the great Himeji castle, and tour the structure, from the courtyards and watchtowers to the superb six-story keep. Investigate the corridors, switchbacks, and other ingenious features of the edifice designed to confuse and repel intruders.

Duration: 29 min

10: Mesa Verde of the American Southwest

The rugged Colorado Plateau is home to the astonishing Cliff Palace. Uncover the culture of the Ancestral Puebloans, and their developing architectural forms of pit and stone houses. Study the features of their spectacular cliff dwellings and their courtyard complexes, rooftop plazas, and soaring towers. View the ornate pottery and enigmatic paintings that suggest evidence of religious rituals.

Duration: 30 min

11: Brasília, Brazil’s Modernist Capital

In Brazil’s newly commissioned capital city of the 1950s, grasp the ideology that underlay its building, a utopian vision of a city designed to humanely serve all its citizens. Tour the city’s Residential Axis, featuring greenery, parks, and plazas, and its Monumental Axis, with its striking municipal and public buildings. Assess the successes of the project versus its inevitable challenges.

Duration: 32 min

12: The Philippine Rice Terraces

Perched on steep mountainsides, the emerald green payohs (rice fields) of the Philippines are stunningly beautiful. Grasp how the development of the rice terraces was connected to Spanish domination of the islands. Learn about the complex techniques of constructing and tending the rice terraces, as they represent a perfect marriage of sophisticated agriculture and landscape engineering.

Duration: 35 min