The Great Wall of China is one of the most famous man-made structures in the world. It is also one of the greatest engineering achievements in human history. The wall was built over a period of about 2000 years by different dynasties.
The first recognizable section of the wall was built by the Qin Dynasty (221-206BC). Emperor Qin Shi Huang had the sections of previous walls that had been built by the different Chinese states prior to their unification connected and expanded, creating a continuous wall from Shanhaiguan in the east to Yuncheng in the west. The wall also included more than 200,000 towers that were erected along its length.
After the fall of the Qin Dynasty, the Han Dynasty (206BC-220AD) made further improvements to the Great Wall. They shifted the wall’s eastern end farther east, adding more fortifications and watchtowers. They also strengthened the wall and extended it farther north, taking advantage of the natural mountains, hills and desert to increase the wall’s defensive capabilities.
The Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) made the most significant changes to the Great Wall, expanding it to its modern form. During this period, over a million soldiers and craftsmen worked for nearly 200 years to build or extend the wall in various areas. The total length of the Ming Great Wall was over 6,000 kilometers (3,728 miles). The wall was made from materials such as stone, brick, tamped earth, timber, and other materials.
The Great Wall had both practical and ideological meanings. During ancient times, it served as a formidable defense system against foreign invaders. But it was also viewed as a symbol of China’s strength and unity.
The Great Wall was and continues to be an amazing engineering feat and a symbol of Chinese history and culture. While it may not have succeeded in its original role of keeping out potential invaders, it still stands today as a reminder of the skill and dedication of those who built it in centuries past.