The document discusses reinforced earth, which combines earth and reinforcing strips capable of bearing large tensile stresses. The reinforcement enables the mass to resist tension that earth alone could not. The idea originated from Henri Vidal trying to build a reinforced sandcastle. Reinforced soil structures use light, easy to construct materials and require only basic machinery. They eliminate differential settlement, increase bearing capacity, and can save land area. Components include soil, skin, and reinforcement arranged in layers. The document discusses design considerations for reinforced earth retaining walls and their seismic stability.