Great Pyramid of Giza — World's Tallest Structure for 3,800 Years

The Great Pyramid of Giza, built as the tomb of Pharaoh Khufu (Cheops), stood 146.5 metres tall when completed around 2560 BCE. It held the record as the world's tallest human-made structure for approximately 3,800 years — until Lincoln Cathedral in England surpassed it around 1311 CE. Around 2.3 million stone blocks, each weighing 2.5 to 15 tonnes, were quarried and placed with remarkable precision. Today, due to erosion of its original smooth white limestone casing, the pyramid stands at approximately 138.5 metres.

The 3,800-year figure is approximate; some estimates extend to 4,000 years depending on how the comparison structure is dated.