Facts
about the Great Wall of China
When was the
Great Wall of China built?
The Great Wall was originally built
over 2000 years ago, around 221 BC. Most of the current Great Wall was built
during the Ming dynasty (between 1368 and 1644.)
History of the Great Wall of China
It is thought that the earliest wall
was built under the rule of Emperor Qin, who successful unified parts of China
around 221 BC. Previously, individual states had built their own wall defences,
but now Emperor Qin sought to connect the walls to provide defences against
northern invaders. He ordered the building of the “Wan Li Chang Cheng" as it was known in China. This
translates as "the ten thousand li Great Wall". A "li" is a
Chinese length unit. 2 li are equal to 1 km.
Why was the
Great Wall of China built?
It is believed that the main purpose
of the Great Wall was to protect China from invasion or attack by northern
tribes (such as the Mongols).
The Great Wall
of China from Space (or from the Moon)
It is actually a myth that the Great
Wall can be seen from the moon. However, it can be seen from space, and images
have been returned from low-level space vehicles including the space shuttle.
The photo on the left is from NASA, and clearly shows parts of the wall.
Who built the Great Wall of China?
The original wall was ordered by the
Emperor Qin over 2000 years ago. The wall was constructed by labourers
comprising soldiers, common people and criminals. The wall was built of
different materials over the centuries. The earliest wall was largely made of
compacted earth, surrounded by local stone. Much use was made of local material
to keep costs down and enable building to continue quickly. The later Ming wall
was largely made of brick. It is estimated that up to 1 million people died
while constructing the Great Wall!
How tall is the Great Wall of China?
In places the Great Wall is 25 feet
tall. It ranges from 15 to 30 feet wide.
How was the
Great Wall of China defended?
The Great Wall included a series of
watch towers and forts which could house soldiers, grain and weapons. Beacons
could enable the passing of messages quickly along the wall. Special weapons
were developed to enable the wall to be defended against attack, replicas of
which are on display on the modern day wall. At one time it is thought that up
to 1 million soldiers were stationed along the length of the wall!
How long did it take to build the Great Wall
of China?
The Great Wall was built over many
years. It is believed the original Great Wall was built over a period of
approximately 20 years. The Great Wall which is mainly in evidence today was
actually built during the Ming dynasty, over a period of around 200 years.
When was the Great Wall of China finished?
The original Great Wall was extended
and developed until the rule of the Ming Dynasty. When the Ming rulers were
overthrown in 1644, no further work was done on the Wall until recent years in
attempts to preserve parts of the structure.
How many
people did it take to build the Great Wall of China?
Many thousands of people were
involved in the building of the wall. From records it appears that 300,000
soldiers and 500,000 common people were involved in constructing the original
Great Wall under Emperor Qin. Many people lost their lives during this work and
archaeologists have discovered many human remains buried under sections of the
wall.
Fast Facts about The
Great Wall of China:
1. It is a myth that astronauts can see the wall from space.2. It is a chain of fortified walls and towers about 6,400 km (4,000 miles) long.
3. Most of the wall standing today was built 500 years ago by the Ming emperors.
4. Parts of the wall were torn down and used as a quarry on the orders of communist leader Mao Zedong in the 1960s.
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