The Great Wall of China has a long history, with sections built as early as the 7th century BC during the Zhou Dynasty. However, it was during the Qin Dynasty in the 3rd century BC that the walls were first linked together into one unified fortification along China's northern border. Subsequent dynasties like the Han and Ming dynasties further extended and strengthened the Great Wall. Over the centuries, the Great Wall evolved from simple border walls into a complex military defense system with various structures like watchtowers, fortresses, and beacon towers. While earlier sections proved ineffective, the later Ming Great Wall is what visitors see today - a structure rebuilt over 200 years to better defend against northern invaders. The

1. Presented by,
Saifullah Mahmud 王方
2093191

2. Important facts about the Great Wall
The Great Wall facts
Chinese name: 长城 (Chángchéng /channg-chnng/ 'Long Wall')
Location: Northern China
Length: 21,196.18 km (13,170.7 mi), all known sections were measured
History: more than 2,300 years.

3. Map of Great Wall of China

4. Building of the Wall
Now the question rises, Who Built the Great Wall and Why
It's often said that the First Emperor of Qin built the Great Wall. Actually, he was not the first to build it.
See below:

5. Building of the Wall
Dynasty Great Wall History-Key Events
Zhou Dynasty: The (Pre-) Warring States
Period (770–221 BC)
State overlords-built state border walls.
The Qin Dynasty (221–207 BC) The First Emperor of Qin linked the Great
Wall sections on China's northern border.
The Han Dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD) Han Wudi extended the Great Wall west to
Yumen Pass and beyond.
The Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) Hero General Qi Jiguang rebuilt the Great
Wall around Beijing.
 Constructed in the 7th Century B.C.
 Zhou Dynasty first constructed “Walls”
 Qin Dynasty: United China and improved the
“Walls” – now known as “The Great Wall”

6. Why the Great Wall Was Built?
 To prevent invasion
 To protect Silk Road trade
In the Qin Dynasty, the First Emperor of
Qin inked the northern walls to prevent
invasion from northern nations. In the Han
Dynasty, the emperors extended the Great
Wall far into today's western China to protect
Silk Road trade.

7. How the Great Wall was Built?
The majestic Great Wall was built with wisdom, dedication, blood, sweat, and
tears. Families were separated, and many workers died and were interred as part
of the Great Wall itself.
Workers: soldiers, peasants, rebels
Materials: stone, soil, sand, brick
Material delivery: by hand, rope, cart, goat

8. The Great Wall's Structure — Walls, Watchtowers, Fortresses
The Great Wall was not just a wall. It was an integrated military defensive system with
watchtowers for surveillance, fortresses for command posts and logistics, beacon
towers for communications, etc.
In the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644), the Great Wall was reconstructed to be stronger and
more sophisticated, due to better construction techniques being developed.
The wall body: The Ming Great Wall usually had battlements 1.8 meters (6
feet) high with loopholes and crenels, and parapet walls 1.2 meters (4 feet)
high.
Flanking towers: Every 500 meters or less (1,640 feet) on the Great Wall there
was a flanking tower allowing defenders to shoot arrows at attackers at the
face of the wall.
Fortresses were built at important/vulnerable access points (passes), such as
Shanhai Pass Fortress, Juyong Pass Fortress, and Jiayu Pass Fortress. There
were many archery windows and gates on the forts. The fortress gatehouses
were the strongest and most impregnable structures on the Great Wall.

9. During QIN Dynasty
 The Great Wall was used for Defense
 But the Wall was easily breached. Was not effective.
 It was not maintained after QIN Dynasty
 It became deteriorated as a result

10. The time when The Great Wall was revived
 Ming came into power 2,000 year later
 Ming Dynasty revived the Great Wall
 It took Ming Dynasty 200 years to revive the Great Wall
 The Wall they revived is the one we see today

11. Uses for The Great Wall:
 China before: Used for Defensive Purposes –
Was not effective
 Today: Used for Hiking, Bicycling and of course
Tourism

12. Great Wall Culture — Legends, Stories, Poetry
Meng Jiang Nv weeping over the Great Wall.
During the construction of the Great Wall, there were many interesting legends and myths,
such as Meng Jiang Nv weeping over the Great Wall, a sad but romantic love story set in the
Qin Dynasty.

13. Tourism
Many tourists come to see the Great Wall of China. It looks
unique in each season: Summer, Winter, Autumn and
Spring.
The picture below shows the Great Wall in one of it’s
unique forms-in winter.

14. The Great Wall—In Different Seasons

15. The Great Wall of China is undeniably one of the greatest historical
builds from ancient China.
It is now one of the best tourist spots in China
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16. Thank You…!
Saifullah Mahmud 王方 2093191
saifullah_mahmud@tongji.edu.cn