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The Egyptians are the most famous culture to have built pyramids. The purpose of pyramids was as tombs for the Egyptian pharaohs. The Egyptians believed that their pharaohs were gods on earth, and that the best way to make sure they returned to the realm of the gods after death was by burying them inside a pyramid.

Egyptian pyramids had a main room where the pharaoh's mummified remains would be placed along with a large amount of treasure. The shaft which led to the burial chamber would be closed off after the pharaoh's remains were placed there to prevent robbers from stealing the treasure. The builders also placed various traps along the shaft to further prevent robbery, as well as false burial rooms which were empty to further confuse thieves.

The Egyptians built more than a hundred pyramids, almost all of them near Cairo, on the west side of the Nile river. The largest, the Pyramid of Khufu, built in 2560 BC, was the tallest building in the world until it was beaten by an English cathedral in 1311. It is known as the last remaining 7 Wonders of the Ancient World. Egyptians weren't the only ones to build pyramids. On the other side of the Atlantic, the Mesoamerican peoples also built pyramids in what is today Mexico. These pyramids were not smooth like the Egyptian ones, but made of several tiers which got smaller as they got higher. They would usually have stairs on the sides, which led all the way to the top. Many had a temple or statue at the top.

The Mesoamerican pyramids were built by many different cultures. Some of the earliest, like the temple at Tikal, or El Castillo, were built by the Maya people at some point between 700 and 1200 AD. Some Mesoamerican pyramids were tombs for kings. Others were religious shrines dedicated to specific gods or to planets. Others might have been used for human sacrifices. Many of the outside walls of these pyramids are covered with writing explaining various stories about the gods to the reader.

The Egyptians are the most famous culture to have built pyramids. The purpose of pyramids was as tombs for the Egyptian pharaohs. The Egyptians believed that their pharaohs were gods on earth, and that the best way to make sure they returned to the realm of the gods after death was by burying them inside a pyramid.

Egyptian pyramids had a main room where the pharaoh's mummified remains would be placed along with a large amount of treasure. The shaft which led to the burial chamber would be closed off after the pharaoh's remains were placed there to prevent robbers from stealing the treasure. The builders also placed various traps along the shaft to further prevent robbery, as well as false burial rooms which were empty to further confuse thieves.

The Egyptians built more than a hundred pyramids, almost all of them near Cairo, on the west side of the Nile river. The largest, the Pyramid of Khufu, built in 2560 BC, was the tallest building in the world until it was beaten by an English cathedral in 1311. It is known as the last remaining 7 Wonders of the Ancient World. Egyptians weren't the only ones to build pyramids. On the other side of the Atlantic, the Mesoamerican peoples also built pyramids in what is today Mexico. These pyramids were not smooth like the Egyptian ones, but made of several tiers which got smaller as they got higher. They would usually have stairs on the sides, which led all the way to the top. Many had a temple or statue at the top.

The Mesoamerican pyramids were built by many different cultures. Some of the earliest, like the temple at Tikal, or El Castillo, were built by the Maya people at some point between 700 and 1200 AD. Some Mesoamerican pyramids were tombs for kings. Others were religious shrines dedicated to specific gods or to planets. Others might have been used for human sacrifices. Many of the outside walls of these pyramids are covered with writing explaining various stories about the gods to the reader.

The Egyptians are the most famous culture to have built pyramids. The purpose of pyramids was as tombs for the Egyptian pharaohs. The Egyptians believed that their pharaohs were gods on earth, and that the best way to make sure they returned to the realm of the gods after death was by burying them inside a pyramid.

Egyptian pyramids had a main room where the pharaoh's mummified remains would be placed along with a large amount of treasure. The shaft which led to the burial chamber would be closed off after the pharaoh's remains were placed there to prevent robbers from stealing the treasure. The builders also placed various traps along the shaft to further prevent robbery, as well as false burial rooms which were empty to further confuse thieves.

The Egyptians built more than a hundred pyramids, almost all of them near Cairo, on the west side of the Nile river. The largest, the Pyramid of Khufu, built in 2560 BC, was the tallest building in the world until it was beaten by an English cathedral in 1311. It is known as the last remaining 7 Wonders of the Ancient World. Egyptians weren't the only ones to build pyramids. On the other side of the Atlantic, the Mesoamerican peoples also built pyramids in what is today Mexico. These pyramids were not smooth like the Egyptian ones, but made of several tiers which got smaller as they got higher. They would usually have stairs on the sides, which led all the way to the top. Many had a temple or statue at the top.

The Mesoamerican pyramids were built by many different cultures. Some of the earliest, like the temple at Tikal, or El Castillo, were built by the Maya people at some point between 700 and 1200 AD. Some Mesoamerican pyramids were tombs for kings. Others were religious shrines dedicated to specific gods or to planets. Others might have been used for human sacrifices. Many of the outside walls of these pyramids are covered with writing explaining various stories about the gods to the reader.

The Egyptians are the most famous culture to have built pyramids. The purpose of pyramids was as tombs for the Egyptian pharaohs. The Egyptians believed that their pharaohs were gods on earth, and that the best way to make sure they returned to the realm of the gods after death was by burying them inside a pyramid.

Egyptian pyramids had a main room where the pharaoh's mummified remains would be placed along with a large amount of treasure. The shaft which led to the burial chamber would be closed off after the pharaoh's remains were placed there to prevent robbers from stealing the treasure. The builders also placed various traps along the shaft to further prevent robbery, as well as false burial rooms which were empty to further confuse thieves.

The Egyptians built more than a hundred pyramids, almost all of them near Cairo, on the west side of the Nile river. The largest, the Pyramid of Khufu, built in 2560 BC, was the tallest building in the world until it was beaten by an English cathedral in 1311. It is known as the last remaining 7 Wonders of the Ancient World. Egyptians weren't the only ones to build pyramids. On the other side of the Atlantic, the Mesoamerican peoples also built pyramids in what is today Mexico. These pyramids were not smooth like the Egyptian ones, but made of several tiers which got smaller as they got higher. They would usually have stairs on the sides, which led all the way to the top. Many had a temple or statue at the top.

The Mesoamerican pyramids were built by many different cultures. Some of the earliest, like the temple at Tikal, or El Castillo, were built by the Maya people at some point between 700 and 1200 AD. Some Mesoamerican pyramids were tombs for kings. Others were religious shrines dedicated to specific gods or to planets. Others might have been used for human sacrifices. Many of the outside walls of these pyramids are covered with writing explaining various stories about the gods to the reader.

The Egyptians are the most famous culture to have built pyramids. The purpose of pyramids was as tombs for the Egyptian pharaohs. The Egyptians believed that their pharaohs were gods on earth, and that the best way to make sure they returned to the realm of the gods after death was by burying them inside a pyramid.

Egyptian pyramids had a main room where the pharaoh's mummified remains would be placed along with a large amount of treasure. The shaft which led to the burial chamber would be closed off after the pharaoh's remains were placed there to prevent robbers from stealing the treasure. The builders also placed various traps along the shaft to further prevent robbery, as well as false burial rooms which were empty to further confuse thieves.

The Egyptians built more than a hundred pyramids, almost all of them near Cairo, on the west side of the Nile river. The largest, the Pyramid of Khufu, built in 2560 BC, was the tallest building in the world until it was beaten by an English cathedral in 1311. It is known as the last remaining 7 Wonders of the Ancient World. Egyptians weren't the only ones to build pyramids. On the other side of the Atlantic, the Mesoamerican peoples also built pyramids in what is today Mexico. These pyramids were not smooth like the Egyptian ones, but made of several tiers which got smaller as they got higher. They would usually have stairs on the sides, which led all the way to the top. Many had a temple or statue at the top.

The Mesoamerican pyramids were built by many different cultures. Some of the earliest, like the temple at Tikal, or El Castillo, were built by the Maya people at some point between 700 and 1200 AD. Some Mesoamerican pyramids were tombs for kings. Others were religious shrines dedicated to specific gods or to planets. Others might have been used for human sacrifices. Many of the outside walls of these pyramids are covered with writing explaining various stories about the gods to the reader.

Japan's Mount Fuji became a World Heritage Site in June 2013. The United Nations decided on April 30th that year to recognise the famous mountain a UNESCO World Heritage. The United Nations said that Fuji was very important to Japanese religion and art. Fuji-san (as Japanese people call it) has been a sacred mountain for more than 1,000 years. In spiritual terms, Fuji is divided into three zones. The bottom, or Kusa-yama, is said to represent the everyday world. The forest line, or Ki-yama, represents the transition between the world of humans and the world of gods, and the “burned” area, or Yake-yama, at the top is said to represent the realm of the gods, Buddha and death. Thus, to climb Mount Fuji is to descend from the living world to the kingdom of the dead and then back, by which pilgrims can wash away their sins.

This 3,776-meter-high mountain, since being recognised as the World Heritage Site, has attracted more and more tourists. It is very popular with hikers, who want to walk all the way to see the rising sun from its peak. More than 318,000 hikers visited the mountain last summer, with up to 15,000 people climbing each day. Local residents are now worried the World Heritage status will mean more visitors, and also more litter and environmental problems. The local government has proposed a plan which requires people to pay to climb the mountain. Governor Shomei Yokouchi said: "It's likely we'll ask mountain climbers to help financially with keeping the mountain clean." Another idea the government has been discussing is to limit the daily number of hikers allowed to the top.