The Great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China is an ancient Chinese fortification built and rebuilt between the 5th century BC. C. and the XVI century (Modern Age) to protect the northern border of the Chinese Empire during the successive imperial dynasties of the attacks of nomadic xiongnu of Mongolia and Manchuria.
Counting its ramifications and secondary constructions, it is estimated to be about 7,000 kilometers long, from the border with Korea, to the edge of the Yalu River, to the Gobi Desert, along an arch that roughly delineates the southern edge of Mongolia Interior, although today only 30% of it is conserved.
On average, it measures 6 to 7 meters high and 4 to 5 meters wide.
The wall was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1987.
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History of the wall
Traditionally, the history of the construction of the Great Wall is divided into five parts:
One before the unification of the Qin Dynasty (221 BC) During the period of Spring and Autumn and the Warring States.
The second, from the unification of the Qin Dynasty, where Emperor Qin Shi Huang began the construction of a wall on the northern border.
Period of the Han Dynasty
Period of low activity
Period of the Ming Dynasty
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At the moment only a small accessible part of the 4,000 km of wall is conserved. The width and height of some sections are impressive. The average dimensions are approximately 6 meters wide and 8 meters high. Although much of it is in poor condition or deteriorated, some sections of the wall are in good condition, thanks to repairs, renovations and protection programs by the Chinese government.
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Why was the Great Wall of China built?
The main reasons:
To serve as surveillance posts. The ancient Chinese had a rational fear of being invaded by the nomadic armies of the north.
To provide the army with a quick early warning system. Signs of fire (night) and smoke signals (daytime) were forwarded from one watchtower to another. Messages could be quickly sent over great distances.
To create a military high through the road the rugged topography. This helped accelerate the deployment of soldiers from one area to another along the Great Wall of China.
To prevent the invaders comes from the north. This worked against the weak armies. However, the wall is served more as a psychological barrier than physical against a certain well-opened military force. A formidable invader could easily breach an unguarded part of the wall. Or, you could break through one of the differences between the individual wall sections.
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