As soon as humans advanced past the nomadic phase of evolution, they have built permanent structures that still withstand the test of time. Ancient engineering marvels, created by cultures around the world, have withstood the test of time because of their careful planning, hard work and craftsmanship. From the irrigation systems designed by American Indians to bring water to their dry desert home, to the massive palace known as Machu Picchu built high up in the Andes Mountains, Ancient civilizations have built some engineering masterpieces even by today’s standards. Although we might not know exactly how the Incas got those huge, perfectly cut rocks up to the top of a mountain or how much planning went into the Taj Mahal or even how much tradition goes into the upkeep of the Ise Grand Shrine in Japan or the Djenne Mosque in Mali, we can closely analyze clues left at these sights and research techniques used to accomplish these tasks. There is a lot to be learned about each and every one of these engineering feats and the ancient technology used then are still being used now and will continue to be for the rest of our foreseeable future. Engineering from a cultural perspective can be defined as a way of building structures, and using technology to develop new and innovative ways to further the advancement of all cultures all around the world.