As a few folks might be aware by now, r/AskHistorians is operating in Restricted Mode currently. You can see our recent Announcement thread for more details, as well as previous announcements here, here, and here. While we will reopen soon, we urge you to read those threads, and express your concerns (politely!) to reddit, both about the original API issues, and the recent threats towards mod teams as well.

While we operate in Restricted Mode though, we are hosting periodic Floating Features!

The topic for today's feature is "If You Build It, They Will Come" - focused on mega projects and the largest of structures.

(Although, of course, if you want to write about a modest ballpark in Dyersville, Iowa, we are here for that.)

This may be the 10-year-old who still lives within me talking, but big stuff is just cool, from bridges to towers to ships to pyramids and everything in between and among that. (Did you know that Cleopatra VII [the famous one] lived closer in time to ourselves than the Giza complex being built?)

What did people treat as monolithic or megalithic projects in the time period you're interested in? Were they proud of their culture's enormous erections, or did they go around muttering the first chapter of Ecclesiastes under their breath all day?

As with previous FFs, feel free to interpret this prompt however you see fit.

Floating Features are intended to allow users to contribute their own original work. If you are interested in reading recommendations, please consult our booklist, or else limit them to follow-up questions to posted content. Similarly, please do not post top-level questions. This is not an AMA with panelists standing by to respond. There will be a stickied comment at the top of the thread though, and if you have requests for someone to write about, leave it there, although we of course can't guarantee an expert is both around and able.

As is the case with previous Floating Features, there is relaxed moderation here to allow more scope for speculation and general chat than there would be in a usual thread! But with that in mind, we of course expect that anyone who wishes to contribute will do so politely and in good faith.

Comments on the current protest should be limited to META threads, and complaints should be directed to u/spez.