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It's a church. It's a mosque. It's Hagia Sophia. - Kelly Wall

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If walls could talk, Turkey's Hagia Sophia would have an abundance of stories to tell. Once a church, then a mosque, and now a museum, this world marvel has stood the test of time and war, surviving centuries of conquest by some of history’s greatest empires. Kelly Wall takes us through the history of each layer of this great jewel of human desire.

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Meet The Creators

  • Educator Kelly Wall
  • Director Andrew Foerster
  • Script Editor Michael Molina
  • Narrator Pen-Pen Chen
Additional Resources for you to Explore
Resources from Columbia University.

Here's a video by National Geographic about the new technology necessary to rest the largest dome ever built onto a square base.

Istanbul Between East and West: Crossroads of History

A Mediterranean Summer of Learning and Travel A few months ago, I applied for a special grant through the National Endowment for the Humanities to learn more about how Istanbul was a major gateway between the Eastern and Western worlds. A grant is typically a monetary award given by the government or an organization to support a cause, or in this case, to help teachers become better teachers and learn more about what they teach. You can read more about what Ms. Wall will be studying and where she will travel here.
TED-Ed
Lesson Creator
New York, NY
During the 8th and 9th centuries there was a period of iconoclasm, which resulted in the destruction of idols, mosaics and other figurative works of art. Debate around the veneration or worship of images became matched up with equal disdain for worshiping images; those who supported the iconoclasm believed that the viewer was misguided by worshiping an image rather than what the image represents.
07/09/2014 • 
 19 Responses
 / 19 Updates
Since, the secular revolution in 1935, led by Kemal Attaturk, the Hagia Sophia has been commemorated as a museum, open to the public, but not for worship. Does worship still play a role in the present form and function of the Hagia Sophia? Explain your position thoughtfully.
07/09/2014 • 
 8 Responses
 / 8 Updates

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About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Kelly Wall
  • Director Andrew Foerster
  • Script Editor Michael Molina
  • Narrator Pen-Pen Chen