National Heritage (Meaning and Explanation)

We explain what national heritage is, its characteristics and what types exist. Also, what is the heritage of humanity.

What is national heritage?

National heritage is understood to be set of goods, rights, burdens and obligations that belong to a sovereign State and that are unique to it due to its history, its geographical location or the traditions of its people. In the same way that a person (natural or legal) manages their personal assets, the State has full power and ownership over its national assets.

In its different meanings, the term patrimony comes from Roman law, and was used to name the heritable family property of patrician citizens (that is, nobles), transmitted from generation to generation. The term was composed of the Latin voices father (“father”) and monium (“received”), that is, “what was received from the father.”

But in the case of national heritage, it is what is inherited from previous generations and belongs to all citizens, that is, public heritage.

Characteristics of national heritage

The national heritage is characterized by the following:

It has its origin in the history, geography or culture of the country, and therefore does not have an established owner, but It is public and inalienable property administered by the State.
It is made up of the landscapes, archaeological remains, natural wonders, geological resources, architectural works and cultural practices that are typical of a nation and a people.
It has such historical, aesthetic, scientific and/or economic relevance that it cannot be easily appraised or evaluated, so often considered invaluable.

Types of national heritage

national heritage natural types — Natural heritage covers natural wonders of a territory.

National heritage covers different types of heritage, such as:

The natural heritage which covers the landscapes, natural wonders and water resources that are typical of the geography and topography of the national territory. Some examples of this are: the Grand Canyon in the United States, Angel Falls in Venezuela, the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador or the Dead Sea in Israel.
The cultural heritage which includes the languages, traditions, crafts, decorations, dances, songs and religious practices of a country, as well as the material and immaterial elements that this implies. Some examples of this are: the celebration of the Day of the Dead in Mexico, the numerous native languages of Bolivia, the Sanfermines fairs in Spain or the tradition of Fado singing in Portugal.
The historical and archaeological heritage which refers to traces of the national past, whether exposed to daylight or stored in archaeological sites. They can be material elements that recompose national (or even prehistoric) history or immaterial elements that enunciate it, such as oral stories. Some examples of this are: the statues of heads on Easter Island, the cave paintings in the Altamira caves in Spain, or the concentration camps built by Nazi Germany in Poland.
The architectural heritage which refers to the buildings, ruins and great national monuments built by the population of a country, whether in ancient or modern times. Some examples of this are: the Eiffel Tower in France, the Tikal pyramids in the jungles of Guatemala, the sphinxes and pyramids of Egypt, or the Great Wall of China.
The artistic heritage which covers the artistic expressions of a nation, in its very different possible genres, from those consecrated with Fine Arts, to those of popular origin. Some examples of this are: Gioconda by Leonardo DaVinci in Italy, the popular singers and copleros of northern Argentina, the murals of the Mexican Diego de Rivera or the poems of the English romantics of the 19th century.

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world heritage

unesco world national heritage alhambra — The world heritage site is selected for its global relevance.

Many of the great works or natural monuments of the world are so famous, imposing and historically relevant, that they are no longer considered (only) the national heritage of a country, but the heritage of all humanity, that is, heritage of relevance no longer local, but global. UNESCO is the international organization in charge of cataloguing, preserving and publicizing these sites of global importance, which can also be of different types:

natural heritage of humanity areas that have exceptional natural beauty, bear witness to the formation process of the planet (or the known world) or contain habitats and biological reserves unique on the planet. For example: Iguazú National Park in Argentina, the Great Barrier Reef in Austrialia, the Dja Fauna Reserve in Cameroon, or the Komodo National Park in Indonesia.
cultural heritage of humanity locations that reflect the creative genius of the human being, that reflect his capacity for beauty, that provide a unique testimony to the history of the species or that are directly related to living traditions, beliefs or artistic traditions of global importance. For example: the Historical Sanctuary of Machu Picchu in Peru, the Himeji Castle in Japan, the Bam fortress in Iran, or the archaeological site of Copán in Honduras.

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