Document A: The Great Wall of China
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
The Great Wall of China was not constructed as a single project. It is made up of numerous construction
projects that were begun at different times, during different dynasties and in different locations. Most of
the early sections of the construction fell into disrepair, or had even disappeared entirely, by the
fourteenth century when the Ming Dynasty came to power. The wall as it known today is predominantly a
product of the Ming Dynasty, which both repaired and rebuilt older sections, and expanded the reach of
the structure. The Ming Dynasty structure can be seen from Hebei province to Gansu province. Beyond
Gansu province the wall becomes a series of watchtowers that stretch into Xinjiang province and the
Taklamakan Desert.
9
10
11
12
13
14
The initial fortifications and the subsequent wall were both constructed to slow the advance of invading
forces that depended on cavalry—mounted horsemen expert at using the bow and arrow. The initial
constructions may have been designed at least as much in response to internal strife as to exterior threats.
Imperial governments feared the possibility of disloyal Chinese bringing military technology or other
kinds of information to the northern nomadic tribes. As a result, the construction of the wall was equal
parts protection from outside invaders and an attempt to keep the Chinese in China.
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
The Great Wall represented one solution to imperial China’s most long term foreign policy problem. This
problem rose from the need by China, as a sedentary, agricultural empire to respond to the invasions by
nomadic, tribal peoples. Initially, this concern came to prominence with the rise of the Xiongnu (shyongnew) Empire, which was based in present-day Mongolia. In later centuries the Chinese would sustain
attacks along the northern frontier from other peoples residing to the north. Some of these groups even
succeeded in conquering China, such as the Mongols in the thirteenth century (ruling as the Yuan Dynasty
1279-1368), and the Manchus (ruling as the Qing Dynasty 1644-1911).
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
The initial fortifications were begun in the 3rd century BCE, during the Qin (pronounced Chin) Dynasty
(221- 206 BCE). The fortifications begun during the Qin dynasty were augmented and expanded during
the Han dynasty (202 BCE- 220 CE) that followed. The final, and most comprehensive, period of
construction took place during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 CE). The Ming Dynasty extended and
strengthened the Great Wall in response to the earlier successes of the Mongols. Early Ming rulers greatly
feared the Mongols, whom they had toppled in 1368. This fear was not without foundation: one fifteenthcentury Ming emperor was captured and held captive by the Mongols for a year.
29
30
31
32
33
The Ming Dynasty was overthrown by another people from beyond the northern frontier: the Manchus.
Over a number of decades, the Manchus prepared for the conquest of China by learning the governing
systems and skills of the Chinese empire. In 1644, Manchu leaders took advantage of an internal rebellion
that destroyed the Ming, entering Chinese territory through one of the wall’s gates. The Manchus
established the Qing (pronounced Ching) Dynasty (1644- 1911), China’s last dynasty.
Source: http://edsitement.neh.gov/lesson-plan/following-great-wall-china#sect-preparation
Document B: The Great Wall of China
1
2
3
4
The complexity and sheer size of the Ming wall outdid all of its predecessors. Not only did the dynasty
add length, it also added double and triple walls in some places to reinforce previously built structures and
confuse attackers. In fact, in many places the wall is wide enough on top for someone to drive a car on it,
averaging an impressive 22 feet (6.7 meters). …
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
The Ming Dynasty also increased the military prowess around the wall. Fortresses were placed
intermittently along the length of the wall to store military supplies, and beacons were built to provide
much-needed light. Another innovation to the wall that the Ming Dynasty introduced was guards. Guard
towers were erected at strategic points along the wall from which guards would send out smoke signals
and fire cannons to notify each other of possible hostile attacks. The only major downfall to these guard
towers is that they were manned by humans, who sometimes fell prey to enemies' bribes and allowed
them access to the other side of the wall.
12
Under the Ming,...defense of the known seems to have suited [them] better than exploration or progress.
13
14
15
16
The Ming were aware of the other civilizations in the world, to an extent previous dynasties had not
been. By being so rigid and conservative, by not learning from the Europeans and taking the best
elements of other cultures and adapting them to China, the Ming rulers kept China from developing, and
therefore weak and defenseless.
Sources: http://adventure.howstuffworks.com/great-wall-of-china2.htm and
http://www.yourchildlearns.com/china_history_geography.htm
Document C:
Great Wall Map