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<p style="text-align: center;">http://library.thinkquest.org/27638/great_wall.jpg</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">The Great Wall of China is an engineering masterpiece that stretches through six provinces, across lonesome deserts, over mountains and great rivers like a marvelous, winding dragon; built from stone, mud-brick and even as legend tells us, the bones of those who lost their lives in its making. Beginning at the Shanghai Pass up until the Bohai Sea, dating back to 5th century BC to early 17th century AD, different rulers contributed to it’s monumental size to protect against nomadic invaders. The part that has withstood the test of time the greatest and which you would most likely encounter if you were to visit, dates to the Ming Dynasty of 1368 to 1644. Although it is not used as a wall of defense any longer, the Great Wall sees millions of tourists annually. It is definitely worthy of preservation as it captivates historians still in search for missing or hidden walls, to some - represents the countless people who slaved over such a monumental task, and marks what has been described by the World Monuments Fund as, “one of the most extensive cultural landscapes on earth” - giving us a, literally, immense look into the history of Ancient China. (Greenfield)</p>
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<p style="text-align: left;">Previous measures of the wall based upon historical records say it stretches, an estimated, 3,100 miles. An extensive two-year mapping survey with the help of infra-red and other advanced technologies unveiled areas previously covered by sandstorms; This concluded a wall that goes on for over 5, 500 miles. (BBC)</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Emperors ruled Ancient China, who would establish order and keep peace within the country. The Chinese led a very elaborate, civilized life with their own writing, silk and rice while the nomads kept on the move to keep their livestock alive - their only source of survival, which offered them food, clothes, shelter, meat and dung to fuel the fires. They lived within grassy, arid plains and sought the Chinese to trade horses for things they did not have themselves. When the Chinese refused trade, they raided their area for what they wanted. Thus, the construction of a Great wall was built as a barrier between the barbarians and the settled life of the Chinese. Qin Shi Huang, the very first Emperor, ruled from 221 BC to 206 BC, unified the states of Wei, Zhongstand, Zhao, Qi, Qin, Yan (who had previously built walls to protect their own borders throughout an era known as “Warring States Period”) He ordered walls that divided the empire to be demolished and a single, long wall to be formed of the remaining, along the northern frontier, to ward of the constant threat of the Huns. As sections fell into ruins in the years after, dynasties following, such as the Han (202 BC - 220 AD), Sui (581 - 618), Jin (265 - 420) and Northern (420 - 589) contributed to, repaired and extended parts of the Wall to continue in the defense against invaders whenever necessary. For many years after the fall of the Han dynasty, work on the Great Wall was at a standstill, especially during the Tang (618 - 907) in which China held great military strength, so the maintenance and additional construction to the wall was not critical. (The Great Wall of China)</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">At 1260, for up to another thirty-four years, Ghenghis Khan’s grandson Kublai Khan ruled as Mongol emperor, overthrew the emperor of China and claimed his dynasty as Yuan (modern-day Beijing) Finally, a man by the name of Zhu Tuanzhang, in an effort to drive the Mongols out of China, enlisted himself in the Red Turbans. After his defeat, he became the emperor of China and named his dynasty, Ming. China began to prosper once more. Over time, the Ming dynasty which began in 1368 became increasingly threatened by the Mongol raids and began revival and worked on an extension to the wall in late 1400s, in fear of the Mongols gaining power again. (Mann)</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">With the strength of long-lasting brick and stone, unlike the rammed Earth of earlier dynasties’ construction, each town or area contributed their own section to the wall where they felt the Mongols would most likely invade. This seemingly insecure yet effective “plan” continued on for 200 years, and these chunks of wall were then connected to form the final Great Wall of China, where watchtowers and cannons were added reaching daunting heights of 25 feet. At the downfall of the Ming at the 1600s, the Great Wall continued to defend the empire against another nomadic tribe, the Manchus. Eventually the Manchu forces crossed the wall and took control of China, establishing themselves as the Qing dynasty. After the Chinese and Manchu united and drove away the Mongols, the construction of the Great Wall came to an end. (Mann)</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">The concept of a “wall” itself is typical of it’s time because walls have always played in an important role in the history of ancient China. Walls were a common feature of almost every Chinese village or town. Although walls themselves are not exactly unique through a historical perspective, since many civilizations other than the Chinese have been wall-conscious, using them as a defense against wild animals or intruders; Particularly, the Chinese showed great enthusiasm, where they often outlined their houses, farms or temples in walls. (Slavicek) In fact, walls are such highly recognized with homes and villages, that the Chinese character for “wall” and “city” are the same.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">The wall today is seen today as a great role in the defense and protection of the people from raids and wars, in order to sustain a stable and peace-filled society. It’s sheer size and age strike people with awe. Although, at the time of the Qin dynasty, such a magnificent structure was accomplished at the cost of human life. Holes on the sides of walls were filled with corpses of those who’d literally worked to death. In efforts of sustaining such a project, heavy taxation was put upon the people. Given the abundance of peasants and soldiers working on the wall, it became “the most hated imperial project in Chinese history.” (Noll) At the death of Qin, the city was susceptible to barbarians since millions of people could not stand the bloodshed the construction of such a wall entailed.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">My personal reaction, as with just about everyone, is one of admiration and intrigue. The “pounded earth method,” consists of giant wood frames supported with dug-up earth, stomped in with one’s feet or sticks; Then, the method is consistently repeated into a tall structure at a rate of about four inches! This particular fact is what I found the most mind-boggling. To think, millions of workers had to move on after such a tiresome procedure, and onto the next segment makes this wonder of the world all the more interesting. It is meaningful because it is unmatched in grandeur and is the resting ground for the millions of people who contributed - whose remarkably skillful methods are proven in what still stands today.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">The Great Wall is comparable to another man-made wall known as Hadrian’s Wall in northern England. Just as the Great Wall borders the Chinese empire, the Hadrian Wall borders the Roman Empire. Both are similar, in that, they were built as a boundary to keep invading tribes from taking over power. Although, they hold very different measures in building time-frame and size: The Great Wall’s construction was taken on from Qin’s reign in 220 BC up until the fall of the Ming dynasty in 1644 and measures over 5,000 miles long, while Hadrian’s started in 122 AD and took about six years to complete, measuring about 73 miles in length. It spreads across the complete width of Great Britain. Both were highly susceptible to invasion, heavily needy for resources, and were unfortunately breached at times. The Hadrian Wall, is similar in function and was used as a defense against the Picts, barbarians of ancient Scotland.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="aligncenter" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/9/77126982_909dc904b4.jpg" alt="" width="270" height="203" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">http://farm1.static.flickr.com/9/77126982_909dc904b4.jpg</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">When Emperor Hadrian noticed issues arising within other parts of the empire, he decided to create an expansive, colossal wall in Great Britain and demanded its construction. The Hadrian, similar to some parts of the Great Wall’s areas, was built from stone - yet, also included turf, a kind of earth with rotting vegetation. Hadrian could have possibly known of the Chinese walls built over 500 years earlier since they are quite alike in design. The Chinese fortification held watch towers, two stories tall, separated at wide uneven segments, which functioned as a storage area at the bottom and lookout area and signal area above (WatchTowers and Wall Design) The Hadrian Wall held something</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">similar: small forts distributed throughout, totaling at about 80 within the wall, known as milecastles. As the Great Wall, Hadrian’s Wall still stands today and is available for visitation. (DuTemple)</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">The Great Wall should be preserved because it represents an architecturally advanced civilization, where millions of people slaved over its creation. Chinese people take pride in it due to its great staple in Ancient China, as it contains a wealth of historical value. Each segment across northern China displaying its own unique building techniques, shows dynasties of profound intelligence. It is truly astonishing how portions of this mega-structure have lasted so long and should be preserved for future generations to come.</p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Works Cited</strong></p>
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BBC. "Great Wall of China 'even longer'." <em>BBC News</em>. N.p., 20 Apr. 2009. Web. 28 Apr. 2011. &lt;<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8008108.stm">http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8008108.stm</a>&gt;

DuTemple, Lesley . "About Great Building Feats." <em>The Great Wall of China</em>. Minneapolis: Learner Publications, 2003. 7. Print.

Greenfield, Jeanette. <em>The return of cultural treasures </em>. 3. ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2007. Print.

Mann, Elizabeth. <em>The Great Wall: The Story of Thousands of Miles of Earth and Stone </em>. New York: Mikaya Press, 1997. Print.

Noll, Paul. "Defense and Cost of The Great Wall ." <em>History of The Great Wall of China</em>. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2011. &lt;<a href="http://www.paulnoll.com/China/Tourism/history-Great-Wall-3-defense.html">http://www.paulnoll.com/China/Tourism/history-Great-Wall-3-defense.html</a>&gt;.

Slavicek, Louise Chipley. "Before the Great Wall." <em>The Great Wall of China </em>. Philadelphia: Chelsea House Publishers, 2005. 7. Print.

"The Great Wall of China." <em>Global Mountain Summit</em>. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2011. &lt;<a href="http://www.globalmountainsummit.org/great-wall-of-china.html">http://www.globalmountainsummit.org/great-wall-of-china.html</a>&gt;

"WatchTowers and Wall Design." <em>Beijing Travel </em>. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2011. &lt;<a href="http://www.kinabaloo.com/great_wall.html">http://www.kinabaloo.com/great_wall.html</a>&gt;.
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