(click on pic for mightier version or go here for mightiest version)

this is incredible.

published in 1884, the diagram above shows the 77 tallest buildings of the old world (europe, asia and africa) at that time. strangely, the 78th and tallest structure shown is from the new world: the washington monument. it stood/stands at 555ft and was completed the year the diagram was made. the tallest of the old world was number 34, cologne cathedral, at 510ft. the buildings were colour coded depending on the construction materials used…

red tint = brick ; stone colour = stone ; pink = granite ; purple = bronze, copper or lead ; yellow = gold

just as a comparison, here are the current tallest buildings on earth…