Humanity has been constructing towers since the Palaeolithic era. A stone tower was added to the ancient city walls of Jericho, one of the first city walls ever constructed. As a part of their defences, later civilizations frequently constructed watchtowers to give their guards a high, secure vantage point from which to survey the surrounding area.

There have been many different types of towers constructed during the past two millennia, including bell towers, clock towers, minarets, and communication towers. An overview of the world's most recognisable towers:

1. Eiffel Tower

One of the most well-known landmarks in the world and a representation of Paris and France is the Eiffel Tower. Gustave Eiffel constructed the tower to serve as the entrance arch for the 1889 Paris International Exposition.

It was the tallest structure in the world at a height of 300 metres (984 ft) until 1930, when the Chrysler Building in New York was finished. The Eiffel Tower is the most visited paid monument in the world with more than 200,000,000 visitors since it was built.

2. Leaning Tower of Pisa

The renowned Pisa Tower was constructed over the course of around 177 years. Due to a shoddy foundation, the tower started to sink shortly after construction began in 1173 and was left unattended for nearly a century.

The tower was finally completed in the second half of the 14th century thanks to the engineers' decision to build higher floors with one side taller than the other to account for the tilt. Since 2001, individuals wishing to ascend its 296 steps can once more do so on Pisa's fabled tower.

3. Big Ben

One of the most well-known tourist attractions in London is the Big Ben Clock Tower, which is celebrating its 150th birthday this year. In reality, the 13-ton bell housed inside the clock tower is known as Big Ben, and Sir Benjamin Hall, who placed the original order for the bell, is credited with giving it its name. The third-largest free-standing clock tower in the world, according to size.

4. San Gimignano

San Gimignano, a hamlet in Tuscany known for its 14 stone towers, is sometimes referred to as "the mediaeval Manhatten." To protect the town from invading forces, more than 70 towers were erected at the height of San Gimignano's wealth and strength. San Gimignano's influence waned after the plague decimated the city in 1348, but this deterred attackers and protected many of the city's famed towers.

5. Spiral Minaret

The Great Mosque of Samarra in Iraq includes the Spiral Minaret, also known as the Malwiya Minaret. One of the biggest mosques in the entire globe. Originally, a bridge joined the mosque and the minaret.

The sandstone tower, also known as a minaret, was built between 848 and 852 and stands out from other minarets due to its ascending spiral conical design. The tower is 162 feet (52 metres) tall. Insurgents destroyed the top portion of the tower in 2005, leaving only broken brick and clay.

6. CN Tower

Canada's most recognisable landmark, the CN Tower, is situated in Downtown Toronto. The communication tower, which the railway company "Canadian National" constructed between 1973 and 1976, stood at 553.33 metres (1,815.4 ft) tall and held the record for the tallest building in the world for more than 30 years before being eclipsed by the Burj Dubai.

7. Three Pagodas

The Three Pagodas, which are around 1.5 km (0.9 miles) northwest of the historic city of Dali, are among the best-preserved Buddhist buildings in China despite having been subject to numerous natural and man-made disasters.

One of China's highest pagodas, the middle pagoda is 69.6 metres (227 feet) high and was constructed by king Quan Fengyou between 824 and 840 AD. The two additional pagodas are 42.19 metres (140 feet) tall and were constructed around a century later.

8. Qutub Minar

Qutub al-Din Aybak, the first Muslim governor of Delhi, ordered the construction of the Qutub Minar in India in 1193. Only the base had been finished when Qutub al-Din Aybak died, despite his desire to exceed the Afghan Minaret of Jam.

His successors carried on with the building, and the top floor was ultimately finished in 1386. The minaret is the tallest brick minaret in the world at 72 metres (237.8 ft) with 379 stairs ascending to the top.

9. Belem Tower

Early in the 16th century, Belém Tower was constructed as a component of a defence system to safeguard the city of Lisbon. It has evolved into a monument to Portugal's Age of Discovery and served as the starting point for numerous navigators who ventured out to find new trade routes.

10. Minaret of Jam

The Minaret of Jam was constructed in the 12th century as a component of a mosque and is situated in a remote region of western Afghanistan. The mosque was damaged by a flash flood, and the Mongols later destroyed the area around the minaret. It's a tiny miracle that the 62-meter (203-foot) high tower is still standing given this and the harsh climate.