Monumental architecture is unique to cities because it is a representation of some part of their heritage that will legally be preserved forever. The monuments that were developed and built by man were a symbol of power and wealth. The heads of that state ordered the lower class to do the labor of building the monuments as they sat back and delegated the task and provided the resources to perform the labor. Since most states were stratified societies the laborers had to depend on the provisions given to them to survive (Nowak & Laird, 2010).

Such immaculate displays imply the amount of control the leaders had over the lower class individuals to create such marvels. I am sure the amount of work those laborers put into building those monuments or the work to maintain the natural monuments was nowhere near equal to the small compensation, or the torture they had to accept in return.

One of the U.S. monuments that placed somewhat of a value on the hard work of the slaves that served our country is the African Burial Ground in New York. This site contains the remains of 400 free and enslaved Africans buried during the 17th and 18th century and as of 1993 is now a National Historic Landmark (National Park Services, 2006). This does not givea them their dignity back for the torture they went through, nor is it repayment for wages unearned for hours of unethical labor they provided. The declaration of this burial ground as a National Monument sent a message of appreciation to the descendants of those slaves that they were of some value and deserved some national recognition for their hard work and endurance.