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The Construction of the

-----Great Wall of China-----

Herrera, Luis

Social Studies Per.


4

Language Arts
Per. 7

1
When was the Great Wall of China built? Who built the Great Wall of China? Why was

the Great Wall of China built? The Great Wall of China is a magnificent structure that was built

long ago by very important and amazing emperors. This astonishing building was built for very

important reasons and for China’s good. This enormous, 20 feet high, 15- 20 feet wide, and

approximately 6,000 kilometer long structure, is one of the greatest constructions ever built. This

massive structure we see today was built, rebuilt, modified, and extended by ancient Chinese

emperors during different dynasties a long, long time ago. “The "Wan Li Chang Cheng", or "ten

thousand li Great Wall" (li is a Chinese length unit, 2 li = 1 km)” (Why was the Great…

hillmanwonders.com) was a very important and wonderful construction that helped China in

many ways throughout its dynasties. This magnificent wall may not have become the wall that

the Chinese might have thought it would be before it was built, but it still became a splendid and

terrific wall that helped and has helped Chinese and other people to live better and more

advanced. Even though the Great Wall didn’t really serve for protection, it has been a

tremendous and important structure throughout China’s history. Without this amazing structure,

who knows how complicated and sophisticated the Chinese might have lived in the ancient

times. In my opinion, the Great Wall of China is a very imposing and unique structure that
helped those in the past, and up till now, in lots of different ways. This grand edifice has been a

wonder to many, from many years ago till today, and I know its greatness will live on.

The Great Wall of China was not really built at a certain date or time, but at different time

periods in Chinese history. The Great Wall was built during different dynasties, in different

occasions. “The wall was built during different dynasties, but three main dynasties the wall was

built in include the Qin, the Han, and the Ming Dynasties” (Carnine, Douglas). The Qin Dynasty

lasted from 221- 206 B.C, which was the time period that the construction on the Great Wall

started. The Han Dynasty lasted from 202 B.C- A.D 220; this was the time period when a lot of

the wall was constructed. The Ming Dynasty lasted from 1368- 1644, this time period was when

most of the wall was build. Since the Great Wall was constructed during different points in time,

a lot of the wall was accomplished to serve the Chinese in many different reasons.

The Great Wall of China was built by not just one emperor, but several different emperors

during China’s history. The Great Wall of China was built throughout three important dynasties

by important emperors long ago. The first dynasty to begin construction was the Qin Dynasty.

“The first emperor of the Qin dynasty, Shihuangdi, was told by magicians that barbarians from

the north would be able to attack his empire, from hearing this, the emperor acted immediately

and demanded that a wall should be built, but not just any wall, a great wall” (Cordova,

Jacqueline).The Han Dynasty continued to add onto and restore the construction of the Qin

Dynasty. The Han Dynasty was one of the dynasties that built a large amount of the wall by

extending the wall over 300 more miles through the Gobi Desert and also building beacon towers

that were placed about 15-30 miles apart, along the wall. The reconstruction did not stop here, it

continued into the Ming dynasty. “The Ming Dynasty was when most of the reconstruction was

made and the crumbling walls were rebuilt. They added many miles to what already existed in

addition to restoring it. This was the dynasty that built most of the Great Wall.” (Muzzillo,
Theresa) As you can see, these three dynasties helped built what is now the Great Wall of China,

but without the emperors of these dynasties, we would not have this marvelous structure today.

The Great Wall was built to protect the Chinese from the offensive and irritating

Mongols, which were China’s worst enemies. Even though the Great Wall was built for the

reasons to keep barbarians out and receive protection, the wall was also built for two other

important reasons as well. One of those reasons was for better communication and quicker travel.

The Chinese could be able to get closer communication and were able to move quicker and

deliver messages more rapid from place to place throughout China. The last main reason why the

wall was built was for Chinese religious beliefs. “The Chinese believed in many spirits, and most

of all in evil spirits that came from the north. They believed that spirits could enter China from

the Mongolian territories, so to stop these spirits they built the wall (since the spirits could only

travel in a straight direction, a wall might have been useful)” (Cowan, Jonathon). There were

also many other little reasons why the Great Wall was built. Some of these reasons could include

“acting as a barrier, to provide roadway through some pretty hard terrain, to provide Chinese

army with an early warning system, to serve as look out post, to impede invaders, and many

other reasons” (Why was the Great Wall…greatwallofchina.nc). Well, the Great Wall was built

mainly for protection, but after its construction, it didn’t just serve the Chinese with defense, but

also with many other ways to use it.

In conclusion, I think the Great Wall of China is a tremendous and remarkable structure

today. I think the time and effort of these ancient Chinese emperors was really a wonderful thing

they did to organize and improve China. Even though it took so long for the wall to be what it is

nowadays, it became such an astounding structure that is recognized all over the world today.

The wall was built for lots of reasons, but mainly one, which was protection, but even though it

didn’t become such of a defense structure, it became a wonder that helped in many, many ways,
to the ancient Chinese. Because of its greatness, the construction of the wall became to be an

amazement, and today, the Great Wall of China may be just a wall to some, but to others, it’s a

wonder.

Work Cited

Carnine, Douglas, et al. “World History: Ancient Civilizations.” United States of America:

McDougal Littell, 2006.

Cordova, Jacqueline, et al. “Across the Centuries.” United States of America: Houghton Mufflin

Company, 1999.

Cowan, Jonathon. “The Great Wall of China.” Classroom notes. January 8, 2008.

Muzzillo, Theresa. “Great Wall of China.” www.charlottecountryday.org. Jan 11, 2000.

C Charlotte Country Day School. Feb 25, 08

<www.ccds.charlotte.nc.us./history/china/03/Tmuzzillo/Tmuzzillo.htm>

“Why was the Great Wall of China Built?” www.greatwallofchina.cn. March 2, 2008

<http://www.greatwallofchina.cn/why-was-great-wall-built.htm>

“Why was the Great Wall of China built?” www.hillmanwonders.com February 3, 2008
Hillman Quality Publication. March 1, 2008

<www.hillmanwonders.com/great_wall_china/great_wall_china.htm#_vtop

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