Named one of the “New Seven Wonders of the World,” China’s Great Wall stands as the world’s longest manmade structure.
CONSTRUCTION on China’s GreatWall began in the middle of the 5th century BC and continued through the 16th century. The enormous structure stretches some 4,000 miles.
Although the exact date is not known, it is believed that construction began during the Zhou Dynasty (770-476 BC) and was divided into two periods:Western Zhou (11th century BC-771 BC) and Eastern Zhou (770 BC-221 BC). The Eastern Zhou had a Spring and Autumn Period (770 BC-476 BC) and aWarring States Period (476 BC-221 BC). Over a span of 2,700 years, more than 20 states and dynasties were involved in building
the GreatWall.
The structure was not built as a continuous wall, but as a series of short walls, made of earth, stone and wood, erected along the winding border that separated China from Inner Mongolia. It was intended to keep out keep intruders.
The Chu State began building the first part of the wall around 656 BC. Shaped like a ‘U” theWall of Chu was referred to as the “Rectangle Wall.” As theWarring States Period ensued, the Chu State extended its wall.
Further construction and extensions to the series of walls were made during theWei, Northern Qi and Sui dynasties. TheWall of Qi was built during a 300-year period that covered the Spring and Autumn Period, and was finished in the middle of theWarring States Period. It stretched 372 miles and was an impressive military structure, complete with fortresses, passes and towers. Only relics of the oncefamousWall of Qi remain today.
During theWarring States Period, the Seven Powers of Qui, Zi, Chu, Han, Yan, Zhao andWei each built or extended their walls.
In 221 BC, Emperor Qin Shi Huang unified China. He ordered that the separate walls be connected and extended. The construction took 10 years to complete. It was expensive, and many lives were lost building it. But it provided better protection and it symbolized the emperor’s power. The Great Wall of Qin looked like a giant dragon, extending both east and west. Qin (pronounced Chin) eventually inspired the name of the country – China.
During the Han Dynasty, Emperor HanWudi built more than 600 miles of defensive wall over a 20-year period.
The Jin Dynasty (1115-1234) built two important sections of wall to protect it from its Mongolian neighbors. The GreatWall of Jin used ditches for extra strength. The two sections are called the Mingchang OldWall and the Mingchang NewWall. The NorthernWei, EasternWei, Northern Qi, Northern Zhou and Sui dynasties continued to add sections to the GreatWall.
Much of the wall that we see today was built during the Ming Dynasty (1388-1644). During this period, the once-simple structure was augmented using sophisticated designs of brick and granite. Passageways were built in strategic locations to strengthen military control of the northern regions.
The new wall segments were well-planned and used double lines, adding extra protection. Six passes were built to control secured entrances and exits. The MingWall included watchtowers, signal towers, fortresses and observation posts, and was divided into nine zones. The Shanhaiguan Pass and Jiayuguan Pass remain well-preserved today.
This ambitious surge of wall building during the Ming Dynasty lasted for 100 years. The Ming Wall was the final crowning achievement that completed the GreatWall of China.
Great Wall facts:
– More than 1 million people died building the first 3,000 miles of the QinWall.
– Seventy percent of China’s population worked on the QinWall.
– The MingWall was once guarded by more than 1 million men.
– The GreatWall on average is 25 feet high and 12 feet wide.
– The bricks and stones used to build the wall, if stacked five feet high, would completely encircle the Earth.
NEW YORK POST ACTIVITIES
USE the Internet or other reference source to learn more about the GreatWall of China.
USE a map to locate and trace the path of the GreatWall.
BASED on the length of the wall and the years it took to complete, how many miles were built on average per year?
DRAW a diagram of your design for your version of the GreatWall.
Today’s lesson fulfills the following New York standards:ELA 1c, 3c, 3d, 5a Social Studies Standards 2 and 3 Math Standards 5a, 5b, 5c Art Standards 2 and 4