Interesting Facts about the History of the Great Wall of China you should know
Have you ever been to the Great Wall of China? It is one of the most notorious and largest iconic man-made structures worldwide. The wall expands in the northern part of the country and it was a huge military line of defense in the past. Today, some recognize it as a unique world heritage site and a symbol of the strength of China. The whole monument is a defensive network consisting of many walls and forts built in different historical periods, with some segments scattering. Do you know, the wall doubles or even triples itself in some places? There are many such facts that can blow your mind. In this blog, we will discover such mind-blowing facts about the history of the Great Wall of China.
The Greatest protector
The wall is an ancient series of walls and fortifications, totaling more than 13,000 miles (Half of the equator), located in northern China. It was originally conceived by Emperor Qin Shi Huang in the third century B.C. for preventing incursions from barbarian nomads. Though the Great Wall failed to prevent effectively invaders from entering China, it functioned as a powerful symbol of Chinese civilization’s enduring strength. Its beginning can be traced to the 5th century B.C. and many of the fortifications included in the wall date from hundreds of years earlier. The construction of the wall can be dated back to when China was divided into several small kingdoms during the Warring States Period.?
Political strategies
Despite many irregularities in its construction, the history of the Great Wall of China as it exists today mainly belongs to the mighty Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The early Ming rulers showed little interest in constructing border fortifications. Hence, the building of walls was also restricted before the late 15th century. In 1421, the Ming emperor Yongle proclaimed Beijing as the new capital of China, on the site of the former Mongol city of Dadu.
Under the strong surveillance of Ming rulers, Chinese culture flourished and conquered new heights of economic independence.? The period experienced an immense amount of construction of bridges, temples, and pagodas in addition to creating a history of the Great Wall.? Its construction began around 1474. After expanding their territory, Ming rulers gained a defensive stance and extended construction of the Great Wall was the key to their political strategy.
Significance of the Great Wall of China
The Great Wall emerged as the most common emblem of China for the Western world during the 18th to 20th centuries. It manifests Chinese dominance in geographical as well as political areas to repel foreign influences and exert control over its citizens.
Today, the Great Wall is perceived as one of the most impressive architectural features built in human history. UNESCO designated the Great Wall a World Heritage site in 1987, and in the 20th century popularly it was the only manmade structure that is visible from a far distance.
Over the years, roadways created dissections through the wall at various points, and many sections have deteriorated due to neglecting attitude of rulers. Badaling is the best-known section of the Great Wall of China, which is located 43 miles (70 km) northwest of Beijing. It was rebuilt in the late 1950s, and today it attracts thousands of national and foreign tourists.
An Excellent Example of Military Architecture
The Great Wall starts from the east at Shanhaiguan in Hebei province and ends at Jiayuguan in Gansu province to the west. The main site of the monument consists of walls, horse tracks, watches towers, and shelters on the wall, in addition to fortresses and passes along the Wall. It reflects the collision and exchanges between two different civilizations – agricultural and nomadic civilizations in ancient China.
?Such a unique combination provides significant physical evidence of the far-sighted political, strategic thinking, and mighty military and national defense forces of central empires in ancient China. It is an outstanding example of the excellent military architecture, technology, and art of ancient China. The monument embodies unparalleled significance as the national symbol for safeguarding the security of the country and its people.