There are 1,154 UNESCO World Heritage sites throughout the world. Each of them offers a fascinating glimpse into the evolution of complex civilizations, empires, and religions. This series offers an in-depth overview of five of the most intriguing UNESCO World Heritage sites from around the world, from Iraq to Brazil. Each lavishly illustrated program goes far beyond the typical tourist experience by incorporating the insights of the latest scholarship and research.
Justin M. Jacobs, a professor of history at American University, is the author of several books, including The Compensations of Plunder: How China Lost Its Treasures. He recently completed a 24-episode series on UNESCO World Heritage Sites for the Great Courses and is currently conducting research on the voyages of Captain Cook in the Pacific.
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Brasilia, the Utopian Capital of Brazil
Built from scratch in the 1950s, the modernist city of Brasilia was designed to express new ideas about urban living and city planning while relocating the national capital from the coast to a more centrally positioned site in the Brazilian highlands. Jacobs surveys Brasilia’s carefully designed downtown landscapes and creative solutions to urban housing, all meant to synchronize in harmony with one another and provide a progressive model for a better world.
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