History 101
Thirteen-year-old history nut rounds rafferty laight up his picks of the world’s ultimate historic sites, learning a thing or two himself while on the road.
Ireckon one of the best ways to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for the places we visit is through uncovering their history. In fact, I think I’ve learned heaps more about history from travelling than I’ve ever learned in a classroom, with all respect to my awesome teachers.
Lucky for me, I’m a total history nerd and love diving into the past. Don’t get me wrong, I adore theme parks and flashy attractions as much as the next 13-year-old, but I reckon that for every one of those on the itinerary you should add a visit or tour of a local historical attraction. That way you’ll finish your holiday with a smile on your face as well as a deeper understanding of the destination and the people who’ve been sharing their home with you.
Step back in time
When school taught us about Australia’s colonial past, I had already walked in the footsteps of child convicts at Port Arthur. But weirdly, I had a more extensive knowledge of Australia’s First Nation’s people, the oldest sustained culture on Earth, than my teachers, as I’d spent a bunch of time learning about their incredible history directly from Indigenous Australians. So I was even able to share some of my learnings (at least the stuff I was told I was allowed to share by my Indigenous friends) with my class.
And while I loved learning about the Middle Ages, I reckon I’d discovered more the year before, wandering through the 1,000-year-old streets of Edinburgh: seeing, touching tasting, hearing and smelling the past. (Seriously, bruh! It’s pretty stanky in those old dungeons.)
Then when it came to ancient China, its emperors and the Silk Road, I had more of a perspective as I had explored Guangzhou, one of the most important Chinese ports along the historic Maritime Silk Road, where I visited the 2,000-year-old tomb of Zhao Tuo, a Qin dynasty Chinese general and first emperor of Nanyue (he was a pretty important dude).
As for feudal Japan, I've had lessons in authentic samurai swordsmanship and bushido (the code of conduct for Japan’s warrior classes) in Tokyo and Kyoto, so I aced that term, too.
But it’s not just about getting good grades (though I really like those), or hearing epic stories about the past (which is also lit). To me, it’s all about understanding the foundations behind a culture, because that helps us to appreciate and respect their ideals and traditions as meaningful legacies of specific times and places. Cool, huh?
Here’s my pick of the destinations that I reckon would have to give visitors the ultimate lessons in history.
Athens greece
I’m a huge mythology nerd, especially when it comes to the ancient Greeks, so there is no way on Earth – or Olympus – I was going to leave this one out. Greece as a whole is rich with history, but with more ancient ruins than you could poke a lightning bolt at – including the Acropolis of Athens, the Parthenon, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Ancient Agora of Athens and the Temple of Hephaestus – Athens is definitely my sweet spot for a dose of heavenly history.
Siem Reap cambodia
I’ve been lucky enough to explore some of Siem Reap’s famous temples, including Angkor Wat, The Bayon, Banteay Srei, Preah Khan, Ta Prohm and Phnom Kulen. But with around 60 more Buddhist and Hindu temples dating back to the 12th century within the grounds of Angkor alone, I’m desperate to see more.
What astounds me most about them is that they’re not only crazily beautiful, but a single temple wall can be so packed with stories that it brings history alive.
Rome italy
What self-respecting history nut would leave Rome off their list? The Roman Empire was one of the founding pillars of modern-day civilisation, and is still home to a surplus of incredible history. Whether you want to stand in the footsteps of a fearless gladiator in the Colosseum, honour the Roman gods at the Pantheon, or relive the life of an elegant noble at the Roman Forum, while surrounded by some of the world's most epic ruins, Rome has a little historical something for everyone.
Cairo egypt
It would be a bit remiss not to include another of the genius ancient civilisations responsible for the way we live today. Set on the Nile River, Cairo was founded in 2,000 BC and ruled by King Menes. Today it is packed with the relics of its ancient past, including the imposing 1,146-year-old Mosque of Ahmad ibn Tūlūn, and a maze of minarets, castles and churches. But it is nearby Giza, the site of the iconic pyramids and Great Sphinx, that's the main attraction for history hunters like me.
Berlin germany
Berlin has an enthralling history dating all the way back to 1244 AD, but its role in more recent history has put this German city on my list. Must-visits include The Brandenburg Gate and the Schloss Charlottenburg palace, as well as the many important sites and memorials that remind us of the devastation of WWII.
And while only remnants of the infamous wall that once divided Berlin remain, visitors can still see Checkpoint Charlie, the Berlin Wall Memorial and an open-air gallery that runs along some of its remains.
Beijing china
I learned at school that ever since emperor Qin Shi Huang Di unified China back in 221 BC, Beijing has played a tremendous role in its history as a key part of the war of resistance against Japan, the home of a devastating civil war, and more recently the founding of the People’s Republic of China. It’s home to some of the most important historical icons in China, including the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven and the Lugou Bridge (once crossed by Marco Polo), and a visit would be a sure-fire historical hit.
Petra Machu Picchu peru
I love a llama, and they alone would be enough to entice me to Machu Picchu, a 15th-century Inca citadel perched high on a 2,430-metre-high mountain. These cloud-bursting ruins are one of my most coveted historical travel experiences. Surrounded by epic views, just getting there is half the challenge. You can hike it (I’ll pass); get to Agua Caliente, a town at the bottom of the valley next to Machu Picchu by road; or take a scenic 3.5-hour train trip along the Urubamba River through the Sacred Valley. But you’ll still need to allow a few days for your body to adjust to the high altitude and thinner air, so you don’t end up with altitude sickness.
jordan
An archaeological site in Jordan dating way back to around the fourth century BC, Petra was the capital of the Nabataean Kingdom and has some cool connections to Greek and Persian history. You see, it was through bountiful trade with these empires that the ancient civilisation, known way back then as Rabbah of the Ammonites, amassed its wealth. Today what remains is a treasure trove of ancient tunnels, tombs and mighty temples, including Al Khazneh, a 45-metre-tall temple carved into the pink sandstone. As well as being one of the 'New Seven Wonders of the World', it’s also a movie star, having appeared in Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade.
Mesa Verde National Park USA
And now for something completely different. Home to some of the best-preserved archaeological sites in the United States, Mesa Verde allows visitors to follow in the footsteps of the ancient Puebloans who once called the national park home. Abandoned in the 13th century, the Colorado site boasts some 5,000 ancient dwellings within its boundaries, including 600 cliff dwellings and a huge Cliff Palace with 150 rooms and 23 kivas (spaces used by Puebloans for sacred rites and meetings).
Mungo australia
I love to travel the world as much as the next guy. Scratch that. I live for it! But considering we live in a country with the longest continuously sustained culture on the planet, there is incredible ancient history to explore right here in Australia. While Uluru and Kakadu are famously packed with historic sites, I’ve got Mungo on my mind. A jaw-dropping NSW moonscape that’s otherworldly beauty is enough of a draw, it’s also home to the 50,000-year-old remains of Mungo Man and Mungo Woman, whose discovery helped rewrite the history of Australia and its First Nations people.