The Great Wall of China is one of the most ancient human structures that have survived to our times. Its construction lasted for several centuries, accompanied by tragic human losses and huge costs. The result is a real wonder of the world that attracts tourists from all over the world.
Start of construction
In the 3rd century BC, the scattered Chinese kingdoms began to unite into one state under the leadership of the great emperor Qin Shi Huang. Many of his actions now cause an ambiguous assessment, but one cannot fail to note his role in the formation of the great Chinese civilization. He was also the initiator of the construction of the Great Wall of China, which is known all over the world today.
It is widely believed that the Chinese needed the wall to protect their possessions from the raids of the tribes living in the north. Indeed, during the Warring States period, the Chinese principalities were often attacked by nomads, including aggressive Huns. But they did not pose a serious threat, they did not have significant military power and could not compare with the developed and strong Chinese.
The main purpose of the wall was to limit the expansion of the empire. It sounds strange, but it was important for the emperor to preserve the borders of his territory, to prevent the spread of his people to the north, where he could mingle with nomads, to start an undesirable semi-nomadic lifestyle - this was the risk of a new fragmentation of the state.
Qin Shi Huang ordered to strengthen the northern borders, and the ramparts from the earth were not enough for him. He demanded to build a real strong structure of stone, which was to stretch for many kilometers.
Construction of the Great Wall of China
More than three million people were summoned to build the wall - according to scientists, this is about half of the total male population of ancient China. It was forced labor, the peasants were torn away from their families and work and sent to the construction site, and the conditions were so harsh that most could not stand it and died. They were replaced by new parties, and the dead were buried nearby, which is why the wall is often called the longest cemetery in the world. Perhaps some were buried right within the walls of the structure.
The construction was carried out on the site of the already existing earthen ramparts; the researchers also explain the fracture of the wall by the fact that the builders had to choose the most suitable places for the relief and the presence of roads along which the necessary materials were delivered to the construction site.
After the death of Qin Shi Huang, other emperors continued to build the Great Wall of China, but not so actively. A number of watchtowers were built, new sites in different areas. And in the 15th century, its first reconstruction began, which was carried out for about two centuries. When the Qing dynasty reigned in China from the 17th century, the functions of the wall seemed unnecessary to the rulers, and many of its sections were destroyed.
