YoU LoOk Up At ThE ToWeRiNg MoUnTaIn AbOvE Ahead of you your guide shows no fear You swallow your own fear and follow her on foot Rain and snow batter your face as you labor up the mountain Your boots slip as you grab the rock face to steady yourself You’ve been exploring South America for the past few years You’ve been looking for lost cities But your travels have not prepared you for this slippery mountain trek You know the danger will be worth it As you ascend the mountain your fear turns to excitement Your guide shouts from ahead that you’re close You lift yourself up over a rocky ledge And your mouth drops open In front of you is the most beautiful sight you’ve ever seen A large settlement of stone buildings and pyramids lies before you The buildings are dotted with plant growth and rubble But they are perfectly preserved Your heart soars at the thought of the artifacts and treasures waiting for you What city is this You step forward shovel in hand to find out 5
chapter WhAt ArE ANCIENT CITIES Ancient cities are cities from hundreds or even thousands of years ago These cities were inhabited by ancient civilizations such as the Romans and Incas Many of these cities were abandoned or destroyed centuries ago Ancient cities existed all over the world in many periods of history But most cities had a few things in common Their buildings often surrounded a central religious structure such as a temple Cities usually had government and laws They also had markets where people sold goods Some ancient cities such as Troy were surrounded by walls Archaeologists have studied ancient cities for hundreds of years This practice began as a quest to find treasures and art But it became a science in the 1700s and 1800s Archaeologists excavate artifacts skeletons and more from ancient cities They learn about the people who lived in the cities They also learn about ancient cities architecture culture and more 1 6
Walls protected ancient cities against possible attacks by people from other cities The walls of Troy were built with mud bricks and limestone blocks
