All About the
Great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China was built over 2,000 years ago, by Qin Shi Huangdi, the first
emperor of China during the Qin (Ch'in) Dynasty (221 B.C - 206 B.C.). In Chinese
the wall is called "Wan-Li Qang-Qeng" which means 10,000-Li Long Wall (10,000 Li
= about 5,000 km).
After subjugating and uniting China from seven Warring States, the emperor
connected and extended four old fortification walls along the north of China that
originated about 700 B.C. (over 2500 years ago). Armies were stationed along the wall
as a first line of defense against the invading nomadic Hsiung Nu tribes north of
China (the Huns). Signal fires from the Wall provided early warning of an attack.
The Great Wall is one of the largest building construction projects ever completed. It
stretches across the mountains of northern China, winding north and northwest of Beijing. It is constructed of
masonry, rocks and packed-earth. It was over 5,000 km (=10,000 Li) long. Its thickness ranged from about 4.5 to 9
meters (15 to 30 feet) and was up to 7.5 meters (25 feet) tall.
During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the Great Wall was enlarged to 6,400 kilometers (4,000 miles) and
renovated over a 200 year period, with watch-towers and cannons added.
The Great Wall can be seen from Earth orbit, but, contrary to legend, is not visible from the moon, according to
astronauts Neil Armstrong, Jim Lovell, and Jim Irwin.
QUESTIONS
1. How many Km does the Great Wall of China have?
2. Who built the Great Wall?
3. What does Great Wall mean?
4. What did the Wall construct for?
5. When was it constructed?
6. Who was the emperor who promoted the construction of the wall?
7. How many people worked on the construction of the wall?
8. How many years did the Qin Dynasty last?
9. What is a Spy system?
10. How tall is the Great Wall of China?
11. How was the Great Wall of China defended?
12. How long did it take to build the Great Wall of China?
13. When was the Great Wall finished
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/greatwall/Allabout.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Wall_of_China
http://china.mrdonn.org/greatwall.html
http://china.mrdonn.org/qin.html
http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/the_great_wall_of_china.htm