Introduction
The Great Wall spreads out from Liaoning Province through Hebei Province, Tianjin Municipality, Beijing Municipality, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Shanxi Province, Shaanxi Province, and Nigxia Autonomous region to Shanxi Province. Michaud, R (2001). The Great Wall of China stands as the longest fortified manmade structure ever constructed in the history of humanity. Michaud, R (2001). The wall that stretches beyond 4,600 miles was erected objectively for defence reasons, it was perceived as the only stratagem that could put the northern invaders at bay. Although its now cashing in greatly in the tourism domain. The was built in succession by the ruling hegemony of the time. Hundreds of thousands of laborers were involved in the construction of this wall. Michaud, R (2001).
Background
Qin Dynasty
The genesis of the construction of the great wall began in 214 BC under the auspices of the Qin dynasty. His regime commissioned for the erection of the fortified wall immediately after he had achieved unifying China. Michaud, R (2001). During the first four years, more than 800,000-labor force were involved in the development process. Despite the fact that the wall achieved in resisting raiders it did not solve the internal wrangles. The internal implosion worsened precipitating a regime change in 206 BC. Michaud, R (2001).
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty progressively took over leadership and also enhanced the construction of the same wall after having noted the impeccable imperatives. The wall was spread far and beyond Zhaoxinag, Gansu Province. Lovell, J. (2006). The Han Dynasty engaged in a fearful warfare with raiders for a period of 60 years, owing to the conditions of the wall that was breached by the raiders. By 130 BC, an emperor known as Wudi of the Han Dynasty resumed on a program of extending, rebuilding and fortifying the original wall concept. Lovell, J. (2006). Immediately after this changes were evident the emperor ordered for the expansion of the second great wall, outposts in Zhangye, Wuwei, Jiuquan, Dunhuang and Yumenguan in the Guansu province and Lopnor and other Xinjiang Province. The great wall was extended down the Hexi Corridor through which Silk Road traders would travel on the way to and from west. Michaud, R (2001).
No sooner than later the Han Dynasty fell apart into the three kingdoms of the Wei, Shu and Wu, the northern Wei kingdom decided to enhance maintaining the Great Wall to facilitate a defense cordon against Rouran and Oidan nomads from the northern plains. Lovell, J. (2006). Despite constant maintenance, the Rouran nomads kept breaching the wall. By 618AD the Wei kingdom fused by the Sui kingdom hence overthrowing the Tang Dynasty. Michaud, R (2001). By 1115, the founded Jin Dynasty commandeered and propelled for the construction of the Third Great Wall that incorporated ditches that ran parallel to the wall, this was precisely in the Heilongjing Province and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Lovell, J. (2006).
Yuan Dynasty
Despite the impressive fortifications built, the Mongols overthrew the Jin in 1276 and established the Yuan Dynasty. During the Yuan dynasties rule, the Wall fell into deep disrepair and in 1368, the Chinese Ming Dynasty walked right in and took control. Lovell, J. (2006). Years later the Ming empire re-establised the manning of the Great Wall, they made this much strategic by building garrisons and fortresses a long the wall. Lovell, J. (2006). By 1372 they put up a fort at Jiayuguan. The second Ming emperor, Yongle, turned his concentration on the outward world where he turned delegated explorers into navigating the external world. Lovell, J. (2006). The Tumu warfare against the Mongols, however rejuvenated the fortification of the wall between 1569 through to 1583, the most well known parts of the Great Wall were built, the Fourth Great Wall. This fortified wall was used to repel the Mongols myriad times. Lovell, J. (2006).
Qin Dynasty
During the Qing Dynasty, that took leadership in 1644 under the leadership of emperor Manchu. This era marked the beginning of the deteriorating wall, where stones were lifted and used in some other places. Markus, F (2006). This hegemony was geared to the complete destruction of the wall. However it was until towards the end of 20th century, in 1984 that the then President Deng Xiaoping embarked on a relentless move to protect and refurbish the project of the great wall. Lovell, J. (2006). The UNESCO declared some parts of the Great Wall in the capital city of Beijing a global Cultural heritage site. The Great Wall of China can be visited at many places along its length of several thousand kilometers. Its condition ranges from excellent to ruined and access from straightforward to quite difficult. Markus, F (2006).
If their claim holds true, the Great Wall is over 400 years older than previously thought. Before the announcement, the first official work on the wall generally was attributed to Emperor Shi Huangdi of the Qin Dynasty (221-206 B.C.). Markus, F (2006). It is evident that this longest Great Wall is visible from space, constructed entirely by hand, with most sections in bricks and stones, the great wall winds through mountainous regions and borders through the desert regions. Michaud, R (2001). The Chu kingdom that lived in 1100-223 B.C is believed to have been the founders of the great wall. During the reign of the Chu era, the Chinese were subdivided into small groups that waged wars against each other. The territorial uncertainties might have contributed towards the creation of this Great wall. Markus, F (2006).
The government has relentlessly touted proactive measures that will ensure the protection of the historical site. It has been viewed a major tourist attraction, besides beacon towers have sprung up along the Kongque River, pass through Wulei, the site of the Prefecture government of the western region during the Han Dynasty. Markus, F (2006).
Ming Dynasty
During and Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the Great Wall was enlarged to 6,400 kilometres (4,000 miles) and renovated over a 200 year period with watch towers and cannons added. The Great Wall was key to protecting agriculture and resisting cavalry of the Uns and other warrior tribes from the north. Waldron.A. (2002). The Ming dynasty bricks were produced in Kilns set up along the wall. The Ming Dynasty revived the concept of the Great Wall in regard to Ming army’s defeat by the Oirats in the Battle of Tumu in 1449. After the Ming empire sensed their inadequacy to dominate the Mongols in warfare, they opted to adopt a fortified wall down the northern boarder. The walls however had to follow the southern edge to deviate form the fierce Mongols.
Waldron.A. (2002). The Ming embarked on a very strong construction by embedding stones and bricks. With enormous and persistent raids paused by the Mongols the Ming empire enhanced resources to maintain the refurbishing of the wall. Unlike the earlier Qin fortifications, the Ming construction was stronger and more elaborate due to the use of bricks and stone instead of rammed earth. As Mongol raids continued periodically over the years, the Ming devoted considerable resources to repair and reinforce the walls. Sections near the Ming capital of Beijing were especially strong. Accordingly, stones cut in rectangular shapes were employed for the basement, inner and outer brims, and gateways of the wall. Battlements line the uppermost portion of the vast majority of the wall, with defensive gaps a little over 30 cm (one foot) tall, and about 23 cm (9 inches) wide. Waldron.A. (2002).
Ramparts, Barracks and Crenellations
The great wall incorporated rampart after ever 120 meters, this were mainly constructed to offer defense against enemies who could otherwise climb up the wall. Each rampart had a sentry structure in which the soldiers could protect the entire wall without being vulnerable to he enemies attacks. Numerous crenellations were also designed in the entire wall to allow soldiers in overlooking and shooting the enemies. Waldron.A. (2002). Since the Precambrian had no audacity to penetrating the walls; the only alternative for the enemy’s entry was to attack the city gates. This is the reason why intricate gate frameworks were constructed within the wall. In Xian, the city wall includes fours gates and they respectively named as Changle (meaning eternal joy) in the east, Anding (harmony peace) in west, Yongning (eternal peace) in the south and Anyuan (forever harmony) in the north. Thomas B. (1992).
References
- Thomas B. (1992) The Perilous Frontier: Nomadic Empires and China:
- Waldron.A. (2002). The Great Wall of China. From the History to Myth: Cambridge University Press.
- Markus, F (2006). Great Wall visible in space photo. BBC News, Asia-Pacific section.
- Lovell, J. (2006). The Great Wall: China against the World. 1000 BC – 2000 AD. London: Atlantic Books; Sydney, Australia.
- Michaud, R (2001). The Great Wall of China. Abbeville Press.