14 Wonders of Our World Series
Grade Level: 6-12
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon & the Statue of Zeus at Olympia
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon & the Statue of Zeus at Olympia
Series Sampler
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon & the Statue of Zeus at Olympia
Social Studies World History World Geography & Cultures
Located in present-day Iraq, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon were said to have been built by King Nebuchadnezzar for his wife to remind her of her mountainous homeland. Their loveliness fulfilled the ancient myths of gardens as heavens on earth, but the wars that have historically raged through the Middle East soon destroyed them.
The stupendous statue of Zeus at Olympia, site of the first Olympic Games, was the crowning achievement of Phidias, the most famous sculptor in 5th Century Hellenic Greece. Before this masterpiece, ivory had not been used except for small sculptures, but Zeus towered higher than a four-story building.
Key Benefits:
- Correlates to all states’ World History and Geography-Cultures Social Studies standards, typically begun in grades 6-7 and continued in grades 9-10, as well as Advanced Placement in grade 12
- Ancient Civilizations come to life in visually compelling reenactments and computer reconstructions
- Recently shot on-location footage conveys a rich mix of geography and culture
- Maps and other geographical data are designed to convey clear information for student retention
- Numerous onscreen captions define key vocabulary words and historical concepts from the various civilizations and will familiarize viewers with unfamiliar names and places
- Computer graphics and animation recreate vanished structures to show how they reflect the technological level of each civilization
- Series enhances students' understanding and appreciation of the cultural, political and religious values of each civilization