Taj Mahal
By: Sunshine Hargett - language arts 8 - period 5
The introduction to the Taj Mahal!
1st paragraph
A tomb built in memory of Mumtaz Mahal by her husband Shah Jehan; considered the most beautiful building in the world, or a “heaven on Earth,” by many
Context: Located in Agra, India, the Taj Mahal has come to symbolize the nation of India.
What is the Taj Mahal, who built it, and why? It's located in Agra, India, it is the tomb of Mumtaz Mahal and her husband Shah Jehan. It was built by Shah Jehan as an architectural expression of the love they shared. Are there any other theories about why the Taj Mahal was constructed?In addition to the love of his wife, many suggest that the Taj Mahal was also meant to reflect Akbar’s profound belief in Islam and the love for his god, Allah.
Taj Mahal zoomed in front
Taj Mahal side view
Taj Mahal far view
2nd paragraph
The Taj Mahal is an example of Mughal architecture – a mixture of building design ideas from Islamic Indian, Persian (old Iran), and Muslim arts. Shah Jahan was going to build an identical black tomb for himself, but he died before he even began to build, and was entombed in the Taj Mahal with his wife. The Taj Mahal was constructed with materials from all over the world, and over 20,000 people were used to move building materials. It is generally thought that Ustad Ahmad Lahauri was in charge of the construction. The construction was finished in 1653.
3rd paragraph
Conclusion paragraph
India has many wonderful monuments of exquisite beauty and great artistic charm. Among these, the greatest and the most fascinating is the monument called Taj Mahal. It can be regarded as a love story written in marble. Rabindranath Tagore called it, “A Dream in Marble”. For many others, it is a “poem written in marble” and “symphony in stone”. Today, it is considered as one of the Eight Wonders of the World.
Resources
http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/taj-mahal
http://www.islamicity.com/Culture/Taj/default.htm#sthash.OG8omhvt.dpuf
Taj Mahal Facts for Kids - Interesting Information about the Taj Mahal in India. (n.d.). Retrieved November 20, 2014, from http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/engineering/tajmahal.html (tags: none | edit tags)
The Taj Mahal. (n.d.). Retrieved November 20, 2014, from http://www.history.com/topics/taj-mahal (tags: none | edit tags)
World Mysteries - Wonders of the World: Taj Mahal, photos, history, construction and controversy. (n.d.). Retrieved November 20, 2014, from http://www.world-mysteries.com/mpl_TajMahal.htm (tags: none | edit tags)