The Symbol of China
One of the most recognizable symbols of China, the Great Wall of China has a long and complicated history. It is not just one wall, but many different walls and fortifications that were built over the course1 of thousands of years.
The walls built2 at different times were often built with different materials, everything from rammed earth3 or wood, to stone and brick. These walls were meant4 to protect China from invasion.
The history of the Great Wall of China
The earliest walls were built more than two thousand years ago when individual states built walls of packed dirt and gravel between boards to protect their territories from attackers with swords and spears5.
Hundreds of years later, in 221 BC, the first Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang, ordered the walls that divided his empire should be destroyed and a new wall connecting the remaining pieces should be built, creating fortifications that protected the empire from northern attackers. No one knows exactly how long that wall was or where it was built, as most of it has worn down6 or been destroyed.
Over the next thousand years, different ruling dynasties repaired, rebuilt, or expanded sections of the wall. The leaders of the Ming dynasty, which began in 1368, constructed the most famous version of the Great Wall. They began by building watchtowers7 and garrisons8, later adding walls of stone and earth. This new construction on the wall ended in 1644.
Interesting facts
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One of the most recognizable symbols of China, the Great Wall of China has a long and complicated history. It is not just one wall, but many different walls and fortifications that were built over the course1 of thousands of years.
The walls built2 at different times were often built with different materials, everything from rammed earth3 or wood, to stone and brick. These walls were meant4 to protect China from invasion.
The history of the Great Wall of China
The earliest walls were built more than two thousand years ago when individual states built walls of packed dirt and gravel between boards to protect their territories from attackers with swords and spears5.
Hundreds of years later, in 221 BC, the first Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang, ordered the walls that divided his empire should be destroyed and a new wall connecting the remaining pieces should be built, creating fortifications that protected the empire from northern attackers. No one knows exactly how long that wall was or where it was built, as most of it has worn down6 or been destroyed.
Over the next thousand years, different ruling dynasties repaired, rebuilt, or expanded sections of the wall. The leaders of the Ming dynasty, which began in 1368, constructed the most famous version of the Great Wall. They began by building watchtowers7 and garrisons8, later adding walls of stone and earth. This new construction on the wall ended in 1644.
Interesting facts
- At its height9, the Great Wall stretched10 more than 13,000 miles (about 22,000 kilometers) in total length, making it the longest structure ever built by humans. In some places the walls were 30 feet (9 meters) thick, and 25 feet (7.5 meters) tall, and it was studded11 with as many as 25,000 watchtowers.
- You may have heard12 that the Great Wall is so big that it can be seen from space, but that is only partially true. It cannot be seen at all from the moon, but from a much closer orbit it could be seen13 by someone who knew exactly where to look and what it would look like.
- The Great Wall is too big and too damaged by time and old battles to be repaired. Nearly one third (1/3) of the wall is in ruins14, it has completely disappeared, fallen down15 and even the stones taken away by local people to use in building.
- Today the Great Wall of China is the most popular place for tourist to visit in China, attracting millions of people each year. Also, it is a World Heritage site16, protected and maintained for all of humanity to enjoy, as well as one of the 7 Modern Wonders of the world.
Adapted from The History of the Great Wall of China for Kids (2016)
Freeschool Youtube channel
Teacher Vladimir Hernández Cervantes
Last modified: May 2020
Freeschool Youtube channel
Teacher Vladimir Hernández Cervantes
Last modified: May 2020
1 over the course = a lo largo de
2 walls built = muros construidos
3 rammed earth = tapia o tierra amasada
4 were meant = estaban destinadas
5 swords and spears = espadas y lanzas
6 worn down = desgastado
7 watchtowers = torres de vigía
8 garrisons = guarnición
9 At its height = En su auge
10 stretched = se extendía
11 was studded = estaba abarrotado
12 may have heard = posiblemente habrás escuchado
13 could be seen = puede ser vista
14 in ruins = en ruinas
15 fallen down = caído
16 World Heritage site = lugar Patrimonio de la Humanidad
2 walls built = muros construidos
3 rammed earth = tapia o tierra amasada
4 were meant = estaban destinadas
5 swords and spears = espadas y lanzas
6 worn down = desgastado
7 watchtowers = torres de vigía
8 garrisons = guarnición
9 At its height = En su auge
10 stretched = se extendía
11 was studded = estaba abarrotado
12 may have heard = posiblemente habrás escuchado
13 could be seen = puede ser vista
14 in ruins = en ruinas
15 fallen down = caído
16 World Heritage site = lugar Patrimonio de la Humanidad
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