Great Wall of China in the cross-history record
With the deaths of Qin Shi Huang and the fall of the Qin dynasty, many parts of the giant wall suffered damage. After the fall of the Han dynasty, a series of border tribes ruled northern China.
Among the most powerful of the tribes was the northern Wei dynasty. When ruling the dynasty repaired and expanded the existing wall to defend itself from attacks from other tribes.
The Kingdom of Bei Qi (550 – 577) builds or repairs walls of more than 900 miles. The repair and expansion was followed by the short-lived Sui Dynasty (581 – 618).
With the fall of Sui and the rise of the Tang dynasty, the Great Wall lost its function as a fortress, as China defeated the Tujue in the north and expanded its territory across the original border protected by the walls.
During the ruling Song dynasty, the Chinese were forced to retreat under threat from the Liao and Jin people in the north who took over many territories on either side of the Great Wall.
The powerful Yuan dynasty (Mongol) (1206-1368), founded by Genghis Khan, eventually ruled over all of China, parts of Asia and Europe. Story of the founding emperor of China's Great Wall that sacrificed 6000 virgins.
Although the Great Wall was not so important to the Mongols especially as a military stronghold, soldiers remained assigned to the wall to protect merchants and caravans travelling along the Silk Road trade route.
Construction of the Ming dynasty wall
Despite its long history, the Great Wall of China as it was today was largely built during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644).
Like the Mongols, the early rulers of the Ming were less interested in building frontier forts, and the construction of walls was limited to the end of the 15th century.
In 1421, Emperor Ming Yongle proclaimed the new capital of China, Beijing, on the site of a former Mongol city, Dadu.
Under the cold ground of the Ming ruler, Chinese culture flourished, and the period saw a large number of constructions alongside the Great Wall, including bridges, shrines and pagodas.
History of the construction of the site the Great Wall as it is known today was started around 1474. After the initial phase of territorial expansion, the Ming rulers largely took a defensive stance and the expansion of the Great Wall became the key to this strategy.
In the mid-17th century, the Manchus from central Manchuria and South broke through the Great Wall and entered Beijing. In the end they forced the Ming dynasty to abdicate, as well as marking the early Qing dynasty.
Between the 18th and the 20th centuries, the Great Wall emerged as the most common emblem of China for the western world, and the good symbol of physical as a manifestation of Chinese power and the psychological representation of the barrier maintained by the Chinese state to repel Foreign influences and control over their citizens.
Nowadays, the Great Wall is generally recognized as one of the most impressive architectural achievements in human history. There was an effort to maintain the structure of the walls, but more concrete steps were realized in 1980, when China made the wall a tourist attraction and source of income. History and secrets of the construction of the Great Wall of China.
In 1987, UNESCO established the Great Wall as a World heritage site, and a popular claim that emerged in the 20th century stated that it was the only man-made structure seen from outer space.
History of the construction of the site the Great Wall as it is known today was started around 1474. After the initial phase of territorial expansion, the Ming rulers largely took a defensive stance and the expansion of the Great Wall became the key to this strategy.
Great Wall of China in Modern times
In the mid-17th century, the Manchus from central Manchuria and South broke through the Great Wall and entered Beijing. In the end they forced the Ming dynasty to abdicate, as well as marking the early Qing dynasty.
Between the 18th and the 20th centuries, the Great Wall emerged as the most common emblem of China for the western world, and the good symbol of physical as a manifestation of Chinese power and the psychological representation of the barrier maintained by the Chinese state to repel Foreign influences and control over their citizens.
Nowadays, the Great Wall is generally recognized as one of the most impressive architectural achievements in human history. There was an effort to maintain the structure of the walls, but more concrete steps were realized in 1980, when China made the wall a tourist attraction and source of income. History and secrets of the construction of the Great Wall of China.
In 1987, UNESCO established the Great Wall as a World heritage site, and a popular claim that emerged in the 20th century stated that it was the only man-made structure seen from outer space.
