Great Wall Construction

The final result of the largest construction project in history to be put into effect was a twenty five foot high, twenty foot wide, and over 1500 mile long wall, called The Great Wall of China. The Great Wall of China was made of earth and stone and was built to protect China from northern invasions. The wall stretches from Jiayu pass in the west, to the mouth of the Yulu River in the east. It crosses over five provinces: Gansu, Shaaxi, Shanzi, Hebei, and Liaoning. Map Site. The wall was constructed sporadically, starting in 221 B.C. during the Chin Dynasty, and ending in the 1500's during the Ming Dynasty. Watch-towers were built every 200 yards and stood approximately 40 feet high. The top stories of the watch-towers were used as a station where a Chinese soldier could spot any enemy movement, and the bottom of the tower was used to store food and military supplies.

The winding Great Wall is not merely a wall but instead a complete and rigorous defense project composed of countless passes,watchtowers, garrison towns, beacon towers and blockhouses. These fortifications were arranged in certain ways under the control of the military command system at all levels. For example, there were about 1,000,000 soldiers guarding the Ming's Great Wall. The chief military officers were stationed in garrison-towns, while lesser officials and soldiers were stationed in Guan Cheng (the defensive beachhead) and other smaller fortifications. The eleven Great Wall garrisons were set up along the Great Wall in order to guard the precinct or subsection.The average height of the Ming Great Wall measures 33 feet and the width is about five yards. In low, flat areas the Great Wall was built high and more defense lines were added. In the lofty mountains, the wall was a little lower in order to save the human and financial cost. Sometimes, even steep cliffs served as natural walls to thwart enemies.Today, the Great Wall has lost its military function, but as a great ancient engineering work, its magnificent beauty and austere structure are still worthy appreciating.

The Great Wall of China was the only man made object that can be seen from outerspace with the naked eye.