Maharashtra State Board Class 10 English Lesson World Heritage Summary, Line by Line Explanation, along with difficult word meanings from English Kumarbharati Book
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World Heritage Maharashtra State Board Class 10 English
- World Heritage Introduction
- Theme of the Lesson World Heritage
- World Heritage Summary
- World Heritage Summary in Hindi
- World Heritage Lesson Explanation
World Heritage Introduction
World Heritage Sites are places of extraordinary cultural or natural significance to humanity. Recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), these sites are considered so exceptional that they are protected for future generations to appreciate and enjoy.
From ancient ruins and historical cities to breathtaking natural wonders like forests, mountains, and oceans, World Heritage Sites represent the very best of our planet. They are not just places of beauty, but also hold immense historical, cultural, and scientific value.
Theme / Central Idea of the Lesson World Heritage
The theme of the chapter is the preservation and celebration of our shared human history and natural wonders.
- Cultural Heritage: Reflecting the diversity of human creativity, innovation, and traditions.
- Natural Heritage: Showcasing the planet’s extraordinary landscapes, ecosystems, and biodiversity.
- Universal Value: Possessing outstanding importance for humanity as a whole.
- Conservation: Emphasizing the need to protect these irreplaceable treasures for future generations.
- Education: Promoting understanding, appreciation, and respect for different cultures and environments.
World Heritage Summary
A World Heritage Site is a special place chosen by UNESCO because it’s incredibly important to humanity. These places can be amazing natural wonders like forests and lakes, or places with rich history and culture like monuments, buildings, and cities. Some places are even a mix of both. For example, Mount Huangshan in China is both beautiful and historically significant. UNESCO works hard to protect and preserve these precious sites for future generations.
A Brief History of World Heritage Sites
The idea of safeguarding cultural and natural sites worldwide emerged in the early 20th century. However, it wasn’t until the 1950s that significant steps were taken to protect these sites. The catalyst for this movement was the threat posed to the Abu Simbel Temples in Egypt by the construction of the Aswan High Dam on the Nile River.
To prevent the loss of this cultural heritage, UNESCO initiated a global campaign to relocate the temples. The successful completion of this project demonstrated the need for an international framework to protect such sites.
Then, UNESCO and other international organizations worked towards establishing a formal agreement. Through a series of conferences, the Convention concerning the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage was finally adopted in 1972. This marked a significant moment in the global effort to preserve humanity’s shared cultural and natural heritage.
The World Heritage Committee
The World Heritage Committee is the decision-making body for UNESCO’s World Heritage program. This group decides which sites around the world will be officially recognized as World Heritage Sites. Members of the committee are representatives from different countries who are elected to serve for six-year terms. Countries can nominate places within their borders for inclusion on the World Heritage List.
Becoming a World Heritage Site
The process to become a World Heritage Site-
- First, a country identifies potential sites and adds them to a tentative list.
- Second, it selects specific sites for nomination.
- Third, experts evaluate these nominations and recommend sites to the World Heritage Committee.
- Fourth, the World Heritage Committee decides which sites meet the strict criteria for inclusion on the prestigious World Heritage List.
- Finally, once a site is listed, it gains international recognition while remaining under the ownership of the country where it’s located.
Types of World Heritage Sites
There are three main categories of World Heritage Sites: cultural, natural, and mixed. Cultural sites represent human creativity and heritage, while natural sites showcase exceptional natural wonders. Mixed sites combine both cultural and natural elements.
As of 2009, there were 890 World Heritage Sites distributed across 148 countries. Italy held the highest number of these sites.
To manage the vast number of sites and their effective conservation, the world is divided into five geographic zones namely, Africa, Arab States, Asia Pacific (including Australia and Oceania), Europe and North America and Latin America and the Caribbean.
World Heritage Sites in Danger
Despite their protected status, many World Heritage Sites face threats like war, poaching, natural disasters, and pollution. These endangered sites are placed on a separate list, allowing them to receive resources and support from the World Heritage Committee. Plans are developed to restore and safeguard these sites. However, if a site loses its defining characteristics, it can be removed from the World Heritage List.
For more information, visit the World Heritage Centre’s website: whc.unesco.org.
World Heritage Summary in Hindi
विश्व धरोहर स्थल
विश्व धरोहर स्थल एक विशेष स्थान है जिसे यूनेस्को द्वारा चुना जाता है क्योंकि यह मानवता के लिए अत्यंत महत्वपूर्ण है। ये स्थान प्राकृतिक चमत्कार जैसे जंगल और झील हो सकते हैं, या इतिहास और संस्कृति से भरपूर स्मारक, इमारतें और शहर हो सकते हैं। कुछ स्थान दोनों का मिश्रण भी होते हैं। उदाहरण के लिए, चीन में हुआंगशान पर्वत सुंदर होने के साथ-साथ ऐतिहासिक रूप से भी महत्वपूर्ण है। यूनेस्को इन कीमती स्थलों को भविष्य की पीढ़ियों के लिए सुरक्षित रखने के लिए कड़ी मेहनत करता है।
विश्व धरोहर स्थलों का संक्षिप्त इतिहास
विश्व भर में सांस्कृतिक और प्राकृतिक धरोहर स्थलों की सुरक्षा का विचार बीसवीं शताब्दी की शुरुआत में उभरा। हालांकि, इन स्थलों की सुरक्षा के लिए महत्वपूर्ण कदम उठाने में 1950 का दशक तक इंतजार करना पड़ा। इस आंदोलन की शुरुआत मिस्र में असवान उच्च बांध के निर्माण से हुई, जिससे अबू सिंबल मंदिरों और प्राचीन मिस्र की कई कलाकृतियों को खतरा पैदा हो गया था।
इस सांस्कृतिक धरोहर को बचाने के लिए, यूनेस्को ने 1959 में मंदिरों को उच्च भूमि पर स्थानांतरित करने के लिए एक अंतरराष्ट्रीय अभियान शुरू किया। इस परियोजना की सफलता ने ऐसे स्थलों की सुरक्षा के लिए एक अंतरराष्ट्रीय ढांचे की आवश्यकता को प्रदर्शित किया।
तत्पश्चात, यूनेस्को और अन्य अंतरराष्ट्रीय संगठनों ने एक औपचारिक समझौते की स्थापना की दिशा में काम किया। कई सम्मेलनों के माध्यम से, विश्व सांस्कृतिक और प्राकृतिक धरोहर की सुरक्षा के संबंध में एक समझौते को 1972 में अपनाया गया। यह मानवता की साझा सांस्कृतिक और प्राकृतिक धरोहर के संरक्षण के वैश्विक प्रयास में एक महत्वपूर्ण क्षण था।
विश्व धरोहर समिति
विश्व धरोहर समिति यूनेस्को के विश्व धरोहर कार्यक्रम की निर्णय लेने वाली संस्था है। यह समूह तय करता है कि दुनिया भर की कौन सी साइटें आधिकारिक रूप से विश्व धरोहर स्थल के रूप में मान्यता प्राप्त करेंगी। समिति के सदस्य विभिन्न देशों के प्रतिनिधि होते हैं जिन्हें छह साल के लिए चुना जाता है। देश अपनी सीमाओं के भीतर स्थित स्थानों को विश्व धरोहर सूची में शामिल करने के लिए नामित कर सकते हैं।
विश्व धरोहर स्थल बनने की प्रक्रिया
विश्व धरोहर स्थल बनने की प्रक्रिया निम्नलिखित चरणों में होती है:
- पहला चरण: देश संभावित स्थलों की पहचान कर उन्हें एक प्रारंभिक सूची में शामिल करता है।
- दूसरा चरण: देश अपनी प्रारंभिक सूची से विशिष्ट स्थलों का चयन कर नामांकन के लिए प्रस्तुत करता है।
- तीसरा चरण: विशेषज्ञ इन नामांकनों का मूल्यांकन करते हैं और विश्व धरोहर समिति को स्थलों की सिफारिश करते हैं।
- चौथा चरण: विश्व धरोहर समिति निर्णय लेती है कि कौन से स्थल प्रतिष्ठित विश्व धरोहर सूची में शामिल होंगे।
- पांचवां चरण: एक बार सूची में शामिल होने के बाद, स्थल अंतरराष्ट्रीय स्तर पर पहचाना जाता है, लेकिन वह देश का ही स्वामित्व बना रहता है जहां वह स्थित है।
विश्व धरोहर स्थलों के प्रकार
विश्व धरोहर स्थल मुख्यतः तीन श्रेणियों में विभाजित हैं: सांस्कृतिक, प्राकृतिक और मिश्रित। सांस्कृतिक स्थल मानव रचनात्मकता और विरासत का प्रतिनिधित्व करते हैं, जबकि प्राकृतिक स्थल असाधारण प्राकृतिक चमत्कारों को प्रदर्शित करते हैं। मिश्रित स्थल में सांस्कृतिक और प्राकृतिक दोनों तत्व शामिल होते हैं।
2009 तक, 148 देशों में 890 विश्व धरोहर स्थल थे। इनमें से सबसे अधिक विश्व धरोहर स्थल इटली में थे।
विशाल संख्या में स्थलों के प्रबंधन और उनके प्रभावी संरक्षण के लिए, दुनिया को पांच भौगोलिक क्षेत्रों में विभाजित किया गया है: अफ्रीका, अरब राज्य, एशिया प्रशांत (ऑस्ट्रेलिया और ओशिनिया सहित), यूरोप और उत्तरी अमेरिका तथा लैटिन अमेरिका और कैरिबियन।
खतरे में विश्व धरोहर स्थल
दुनिया भर में कई प्राकृतिक, ऐतिहासिक और सांस्कृतिक स्थल युद्ध, अवैध शिकार, प्राकृतिक आपदाओं जैसे भूकंप, अनियंत्रित शहरीकरण, भारी पर्यटन यातायात और वायु प्रदूषण और अम्ल वर्षा जैसे पर्यावरणीय कारकों के कारण नष्ट होने या खो जाने के खतरे में हैं। इन लुप्तप्राय स्थलों को विश्व धरोहर स्थलों की एक अलग सूची में “विश्व धरोहर स्थल खतरे में” के रूप में दर्ज किया जाता है, जिससे विश्व धरोहर समिति को विश्व धरोहर कोष से उस स्थल के लिए संसाधन आवंटित करने की अनुमति मिलती है। इसके अलावा, साइट की रक्षा और/या पुनर्स्थापना के लिए विभिन्न योजनाएँ बनाई जाती हैं। हालांकि, अगर कोई स्थल अपनी उन विशेषताओं को खो देता है जिसके कारण उसे मूल रूप से विश्व धरोहर सूची में शामिल किया गया था, तो विश्व धरोहर समिति उस स्थल को सूची से हटाने का विकल्प चुन सकती है।
अधिक जानकारी के लिए, विश्व धरोहर केंद्र की वेबसाइट देखें: whc.unesco.org.
World Heritage Lesson Explanation
Passage: A World Heritage Site is a site determined by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to have significant cultural or natural importance to humanity. As such the sites are protected and maintained by the International World Heritage Programme which is administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. Because World Heritage Sites are places that are significant culturally and naturally, they vary in type but include forests, lakes, monuments, buildings and cities.
Word Meaning
Site: A place or location
Determined: Decided upon.
Significant: Important or meaningful.
Humanity: All people in the world.
Administered: Managed or controlled.
Culturally: Related to the way people live, think, and behave.
Naturally: Related to nature and the environment.
Vary: Differ or change.
Monuments: Structures built to honour people or events.
Explanation: A World Heritage Site is a special place that has been chosen by an organisation called UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). The organisation believes world heritage sites are very valuable to all the people in the world because it has something special about it, like its history or nature.
Because these sites are so important, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee takes care of such places and makes sure it stays safe.
There are different kinds of heritage sites, like big forests, beautiful lakes, old buildings, or even whole cities.
Passage: World Heritage Sites can also be a combination of both cultural and natural areas. For example, Mount Huangshan in China is a site with significance to human culture because it played a role in historical Chinese art and literature. The mountain is also significant because of its physical landscape characteristics.
Word Meaning
Combination: A mix of two or more things.
Human culture: The way of life, beliefs, and customs of people.
Historical: Relating to the past.
Landscape: The natural features of a place, such as mountains, valleys, rivers, and forests.
Characteristics: Features or qualities that belong to someone or something.
Explanation: World Heritage Sites can also be a place with a mix of culture and nature. For example, there’s a mountain in China called Mount Huangshan. It’s a beautiful place with lots of interesting rocks and trees.
But it’s also important because it was used in old Chinese stories and pictures. So, it’s both a beautiful place to see and a place with a special history.
Passage: HISTORY OF WORLD HERITAGE SITES
Although the idea of protecting cultural and natural heritage sites around the world began in the early twentieth century, momentum for its actual creation was not until the 1950s. In 1954, Egypt started plans to build the Aswan High Dam to collect and control water from the Nile River.
Word Meaning
Heritage: something that is passed down from the past
Momentum: the force or speed of something in motion; in this case, the growing support for protecting heritage sites
Explanation: People started thinking about protecting heritage sites a long time ago. Even though people knew it was important, it wasn’t until the 1950s that they started making plans to protect these places.
A country called Egypt wanted to build Aswan High Dam, a very big dam to hold water from a river called the Nile.
Passage: The initial plan for the dam’s construction would have flooded the valley containing the Abu Simbel Temples and scores of ancient Egyptian artefacts. To protect the temples and artefacts, UNESCO launched an international campaign in 1959 that called for the dismantling and movement of the temples to higher ground. The project cost an estimated US $80 million, $40 million of which came from 50 different countries. Because of the project’s success, UNESCO and the International Council on Monuments and Sites initiated a draft convention to create an international organization responsible for protecting cultural heritage.
Word Meaning
Initial: First or beginning.
Dam: A barrier built across a river to control the flow of water.
Scores: A large number.
Artefacts: Objects made by humans, especially those from the past.
Campaign: A planned series of actions aimed at achieving a particular goal.
Dismantling: Taking apart something.
Convention: A formal agreement between countries or groups of people.
Explanation: People wanted to build a very large dam, but this would have covered up some really old and important places called the Abu Simbel Temples. There were also many other old, valuable objects. To keep the temples and other old relics safe, UNESCO decided to move the temples to higher land. But, moving the temples was expensive. It cost a lot of money to move the temples to a safer place. $40 millions were donated by 50 different countries to fund this cause.
UNESCO and the International Council on Monuments and Sites decided to make a plan. They wanted to start an organisation that would help save important heritage sites from all over the world.
Passage: Shortly thereafter in 1965, a White House Conference in the United States called for a “World Heritage Trust” to protect historic and cultural sites but to also protect the world’s significant natural and scenic sites. Finally, in 1968, the International Union for Conservation of Nature developed similar goals and presented them at the United Nations conference on Human Environment in Stockholm, Sweden in 1972. Following the presentation of these goals, the Convention concerning the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage was adopted by UNESCO’s General Conference on November 16, 1972.
Word Meaning
Conference: A formal meeting of people with a shared interest
Scenic: Beautiful natural views
Conservation: Protecting something from harm or damage
Convention: A formal agreement between countries or groups
Explanation: Not long after that, in 1965, people in the United States had a big meeting (White House Conference). They wanted to create a “World Heritage Trust” to protect old monuments and beautiful natural spots.
Then, in 1968, another group, the International Union for Conservation of Nature also wanted to protest heritage sites.They talked about their ideas on Human Environment at the United Nations conference in Stockholm, Sweden in 1972.
After these goals were shared, the Convention for Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage was adopted by UNESCO’s General Conference on November 16, 1972.
Passage: THE WORLD HERITAGE COMMITTEE
Today, the World Heritage Committee is the main group responsible for establishing which sites will be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Committee meets once a year and consists of representatives from 21 State Parties that are elected for six year terms by the World Heritage Center’s General Assembly. The State Parties are then responsible for identifying and nominating new sites within their territory to be considered for inclusion on the World Heritage list.
Word Meaning
Establishing: Deciding on something officially.
State Parties: Countries that are part of an agreement or treaty.
Representatives: People who act or speak officially for another person or group.
Nominating: Suggesting someone or something for a position or honour.
Inclusion: The act of including someone or something as part of a group or whole.
Explanation: Today, the World Heritage Committee is the primary group that decides which sites are important enough to be on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list. The Committee meets once every year to talk about it. The Committee is made up of people from 21 State Parties who are chosen to be there for six years by the World Heritage Center’s General Assembly. These representatives are responsible for choosing and suggesting new sites in their country to be added to the list of World Heritage Sites.
Passage: BECOMING A WORLD HERITAGE SITE
There are five steps in becoming a World Heritage Site, the first of which is for a country or State Party to take an inventory of its significant cultural and natural sites. This is called the Tentative List and it is important because nominations to the World Heritage List will not be considered unless the nominated site was first included on the Tentative List.
Word Meaning
Inventory: A complete list of something. In this case, a list of important cultural and natural places in a country.
Tentative List: A preliminary list of potential World Heritage Sites that a country identifies for future nomination.
Nomination: The formal process of proposing a site for inclusion on the World Heritage List.
Explanation: To become a UNESCO World Heritage Site, there are five steps. The first step is for a country or a state party to make a list of its important cultural and natural spots. This list is called the Tentative List. It is important to have a place on this list before it becomes a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Passage: Next, countries are then able to select sites from their Tentative Lists to be included on a Nomination File. The third step is a review of the Nomination File by two Advisory Bodies consisting of the International Council on Monuments and Sites and the World Conservation Union, who then make recommendations to the World Heritage Committee. The World Heritage Committee meets once a year to review these recommendations and decide which sites will be added to the World Heritage List.
Word Meaning
Tentative List: A preliminary list of potential World Heritage Sites that a country identifies.
Nomination File: A detailed document about a site that is being considered for the World Heritage List.
Advisory Bodies: Groups of experts who give advice.
Explanation: Then a country identifies potential World Heritage Sites, they create a list of these places. This is called a “Tentative List.” Detailed information about these chosen sites is called a “Nomination File.” From this Nomination File, they can choose one or more places to officially nominate.
Then, two groups of experts, one for cultural sites called International Council on Monuments and Sites and another for natural sites called World Conservation Union, examine the nomination file very carefully.
Next, the World Heritage Committee meets every year to consider all the expert suggestions and decides which sites will become official World Heritage Sites.
Passage: The final step in becoming a World Heritage Site is determining whether or not a nominated site meets at least one of the ten selection criteria. If the site meets these criteria, it can then be inscribed on the World Heritage List. Once a site goes through this process and is chosen, it remains the property of the country on whose territory it sits, but it also becomes considered within the international community.
Word Meaning
Inscribed: officially added
Territory: the land belonging to a particular country or state.
Explanation: There is one final step, for a site to become a World Heritage Site. There are ten selection criteria for nominated sites. If a site meets at least one of these special qualities, it can be added to the World Heritage List.
Once a site is chosen to be a World Heritage Site, it still belongs to the country where it is, but it becomes known and valued by people all over the world.
Passage: TYPES OF WORLD HERITAGE SITES
As of 2009, there are 890 World Heritage Sites that are located in 148 countries (map). 689 of these sites are cultural and include places like the Sydney Opera House in Australia and the Historic Center of Vienna in Austria. 176 are natural and feature such locations as the U.S.’s Yellowstone and Grand Canyon National Parks. 25 of the World Heritage Sites are considered mixed i.e. natural and cultural Peru’s Machu Picchu is one of these.
Word Meaning
i.e. (abbreviation for “id est”): That is to say; in other words.
Explanation: As of 2009, there are 890 World Heritage Sites around the world. These places are spread across 148 different countries. Broadly, there are three kinds of World Heritage Sites-
- Cultural Sites– 689 out of 890 world heritage sites are Cultural World Heritage sites like the Sydney Opera House in Australia and the Historic Center of Vienna in Austria.
- Natural Sites– 176 out of 890 world heritage sites are Natural World Heritage sites. These sites are natural wonders, like big mountains or huge forests, like the Yellowstone and Grand Canyon in the United States.
- Both Cultural and Natural Sites – 25 out of 890 World Heritage Sites can be put in the category of a mix of both cultural and natural world heritage sites. Machu Picchu in Peru is a good example of the same.
Passage: Italy has the highest number of World Heritage Sites with 44. India has 36 (28 cultural, 7 natural and 1 mixed) World Heritage Sites. The World Heritage Committee has divided the world’s countries into five geographic zones which include (1) Africa, (2) Arab States, (3) Asia Pacific (including Australia and Oceania), (4) Europe and North America and (5) Latin America and the Caribbean.
Explanation: Italy has 44 World Heritage Sites making Italy a country with the most number of World Heritage Sites in the world. India has 36 World Heritage Sites – 28 are cultural, 7 are beautiful natural spots, and 1 is a mix of both cultural and natural.
The world is divided into five big areas by the World Heritage Committee. These geographical zones are
- Africa
- The Middle East (Arab States)
- Asia (including Australia and Oceania)
- Europe and North America
- Latin America and the Caribbean
Passage: WORLD HERITAGE SITES IN DANGER
Like many natural, historic and cultural sites around the world, many World Heritage Sites are in danger of being destroyed or lost due to war, poaching, natural disasters like earthquakes, uncontrolled urbanization, heavy tourist traffic and environmental factors like air pollution and acid rain. World Heritage Sites that are in danger are inscribed on a separate List of World Heritage Sites in Danger which allows the World Heritage Committee to allocate resources from the World Heritage Fund to that site.
Word Meaning
Poaching: Illegal hunting or capturing of animals.
Urbanization: The process of making an area more like a city, with buildings, roads, and people.
Inscribed: Written or recorded formally.
Allocate: To set apart or designate for a specific purpose.
Resources: Supplies or assets that can be used to achieve a goal.
Explanation: Lots of natural, historic and cultural places around the world, including many of the World Heritage Sites, are at risk of being damaged or lost. This can happen because of wars, people hunting animals, big earthquakes, too many people living in cities, too many tourists, pollution and acid rain.
When a World Heritage Site is in danger, it is put on a different list called, List of World Heritage Sites in Danger. This helps the World Heritage Committee to give money from the World Heritage Fund to protect and safeguard the sites in danger.
Passage: In addition, different plans are put into place to protect and/or restore the site. If however, a site loses the characteristics which allowed for it to be originally included on the World Heritage List, the World Heritage Committee can choose to delete the site from the list. To learn more about World Heritage Sites, visit the World Heritage Centre’s website at whc.unesco.org.
Word Meaning
Restore: Repair, rebuild
Explanation: Once a site becomes a World Heritage Site, there are plans made to keep it safe and sometimes even renovate it if needed. But if a World Heritage Site loses the qualities that made it important in the first place, it can be taken off the list by the World Heritage Committee.
If you want to know more, you can visit the website of the World Heritage Centre that takes care of World Heritage Sites @ whc.unesco.org.