Illustration of an aerial view of an 11th century Norman castle in Europe. From this view, it is possible to see the outer wall, moat, outer and inner courts, the keep, turrets, stables and other interior buildings. There is a palisade of stakes around the moat.

An 11th Century Norman Castle, Aerial View

Illustration of an aerial view of an 11th century Norman castle in Europe. From this view, it is possible…

Illustration of the Acropolis restored to what it may have looked like when originally completed. The view is from the front and you can see the propylaea. The hill can be seen sloping steeply downward (left) and the city of Athens can be seen in the background, built around the hill. Two figures climb the steps at the front of the complex.

The Acropolis of Athens - Restoration of the Propylaea

Illustration of the Acropolis restored to what it may have looked like when originally completed. The…

Union soldiers being held at Andersonville, a Confederate prison.

Union Prisoners Confined at the Confederate Prison at Andersonville

Union soldiers being held at Andersonville, a Confederate prison.

"Yellow Ants (F. Flava) and Nest." — Chambers' Encyclopedia, 1875

Yellow Ants

"Yellow Ants (F. Flava) and Nest." — Chambers' Encyclopedia, 1875

"Battle of Antietam, Md. Burnside's division carrying the bridge over the Antietam Creek and storming the Confederate position, after a desperate conflict of four hours, Wednesday, September 17th, 1862. On the left, during the afternoon, Burnside carried the bridge, after an obstinate contest of four hours' duration and a loss of about five hundred killed and wounded. Hawkins's Zouaves then crossed, and finding the enemy ready drawn up under cover of the hills, advanced in line of battle on their new position, about half a mile distant. The ground over which they advanced was open clover and plowed fields, the latter very difficult and fatiguing to march in, owing to the softness of the ground. The enemy's guns, fourteen in number, kept up a terrible fire on the advancing line, which never wavered, but slowly toiled along, receving shelter, however, when they were in the hollows. They were halted a few moments to rest in the hollow nearest the enemy's position, and then were ordered to charge with a yell. As they came up the hillin front of the enemy's batteries they received a heavy volley from a large force of infantry behind a stone wall about two hundred feet in front of the enemy's batteries. The Federals, though terribly decimated, gave them a volley in return, and then went on with the bayonet. The enemy did not stay to contest the ground, and although two to one, broke and ran, leaving their guns." — Frank Leslie, 1896

Battle of Antietam

"Battle of Antietam, Md. Burnside's division carrying the bridge over the Antietam Creek and storming…

Bees flying out of their hive and towards the ant hill in a miniature zeppelin.

Ants and Bees

Bees flying out of their hive and towards the ant hill in a miniature zeppelin.

"This tribe, which includes the various kinds of Ants, is composed entirely of insects which live in communities, consisting of three distinct types of individuals, males, females, and neuters." — Goodrich, 1859

Ants and Their Structures

"This tribe, which includes the various kinds of Ants, is composed entirely of insects which live in…

An illustration of a boy and girl sitting on a hill looking at shapes in clouds.

Boy & Girl Sitting on Hill Looking at Shapes in Clouds

An illustration of a boy and girl sitting on a hill looking at shapes in clouds.

A battle of the American Revolution named after the adjacent hill, which was the objective of both colonial and British troops.

Bunker Hill

A battle of the American Revolution named after the adjacent hill, which was the objective of both colonial…

"Fredericksburg, Va., and the Confederate batteries and pickets, as seen from Falmouth Heights, headquarters of General Burnside. Our picture of Fredericksburg gives of course but a very small portion of the famous city, in sight of which our great founder was born, the family homestead being about two miles east of Falmouth where the view was taken. Here stood the famous cherry tree which the infant George cut and confessed to when his indignant father questioned him about it. About a mile to the north of the Rappahannock there is a short range of hills, called Falmouth Heights, which gradually slope to a point where the gully commences, in the centre of which runs the stream, which in dry weather is easy fordable."— Frank Leslie, 1896

Confederate Batteries

"Fredericksburg, Va., and the Confederate batteries and pickets, as seen from Falmouth Heights, headquarters…

Crag and tail, a term used to designate a peculiar hill conformation. a, crag; b, tail (boulder clay, drift, etc.); c, hollow in front of crag.

Crag and Tail

Crag and tail, a term used to designate a peculiar hill conformation. a, crag; b, tail (boulder clay,…

"Suppose a to be a gravel hill, and b a strata of clay or rock, impervious to water. The fluid percolating through the gravel would reach the impervious strata, along which it would run until it found an outlet at c at the foot of the hill, where a spring would be formed." — Wells, 1857

Gravel Hill

"Suppose a to be a gravel hill, and b a strata of clay or rock, impervious to water. The fluid percolating…

An landscape illustrating a house set behind a hill.

House Behind a Hill

An landscape illustrating a house set behind a hill.

A city house in the country.  A low house would be better suited to sitting alone on a hill.

City House

A city house in the country. A low house would be better suited to sitting alone on a hill.

Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water.

Jack and Jill

Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water.

Jack fell down and broke his crown and Jill fell tumbling after.

Jack and Jill

Jack fell down and broke his crown and Jill fell tumbling after.

"London City and Midland Bank, Ludgate Hill Branch." — The Encyclopedia Britannica, 1910

London City

"London City and Midland Bank, Ludgate Hill Branch." — The Encyclopedia Britannica, 1910

Confederate and Union forces clash at Lookout Mountain.

Battle of Lookout Mountain

Confederate and Union forces clash at Lookout Mountain.

Scene from a Civil War Battle,.

Battle of Malvern Hill

Scene from a Civil War Battle,.

"The nearer the contours on a map are to one another, the steeper is the slope, and the farther the contours on a map are from one another, the gentler is the slope. A wide space between contours then, resembles level ground." — Moss, 1914

Elevation map

"The nearer the contours on a map are to one another, the steeper is the slope, and the farther the…

"Skirmishing between the pickets of the two armies near Munson's Hill- the hill in the distance. Munson's Hill is about five miles from the Chain Bridge, on the northern side of the Leesburg Turnpike, about one mile from Bailey's Crossroads, where our pickets were stationed, and about three miles this side of Falls Church, which was in full possession of the enemy. In this neighborhood they had strong pickets, which frequently came into collision with those sent out upon the Federal side from Ball's Roads." — Frank Leslie, 1896

Munson's Hill

"Skirmishing between the pickets of the two armies near Munson's Hill- the hill in the distance. Munson's…

There was an old woman; Lived under a hill; And if she's not gone; She lives there still.

Old Woman

There was an old woman; Lived under a hill; And if she's not gone; She lives there still.

In Norse mythology, Siegfried is a brave young man who comes upon a hill filled with fire. He runs straight through the flames to find Brunhild, a shieldmaiden, sleeping until someone was brave enough to find her.

Siegfried Finds Brunhild

In Norse mythology, Siegfried is a brave young man who comes upon a hill filled with fire. He runs straight…

The termite, here showing the winged phase of its life and a termite mound.

Termite

The termite, here showing the winged phase of its life and a termite mound.

An image of a town viewed from upon a hill.

Town

An image of a town viewed from upon a hill.

A large tree atop a hillside near a fence and birds flying by.

Tree

A large tree atop a hillside near a fence and birds flying by.

If land falls to a minimum line with a steady slope, the land form created is called a valley.

Valley

If land falls to a minimum line with a steady slope, the land form created is called a valley.

Vertical interval is the difference in elevation between adjacent contours.

Vertical Interval

Vertical interval is the difference in elevation between adjacent contours.