History and Timeline of the Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China is regarded as one of the greatest wonders of the world. It stretches around 6700 Kilometers (4163 miles) from east to west of China. It is more than 2000 years old. Some parts of the wall have either completely disappeared or in ruins. It winds up and down across mountains, plateaus, deserts and grasslands. The Great Wall of China is not a continuous wall but is made up of a number of short walls.

Timeline

5th century BC to 221 BC: During the Warring States Period from the 5th century BC to 221 BC, the states of Qi, Yan and Zhao all constructed extensive fortifications to defend their own borders. Built to withstand the attack of small arms such as swords and spears, these walls were made mostly by stamping gravel and earth between board frames.

221 BC: In order to strengthen his rule and defend the Huns in the north, Emperor Quin ordered connecting the walls once built by the other states as well as adding some sections of his own. Thus was formed the long Qin's wall which started from the east of today's Liaoning Province and ended at Lintao, Gansu Province 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 to defend against the invading nomadic Hsiung Nu tribes north of China (the Huns). Signal fires from the Wall gave early warning of an attack.

Some additions and modifications were made to these simple walls over the next millennium but the major construction of the "modern" walls began in the Ming Dynasty (1388-1644 CE).

1368-1644 CE: The Great Wall concept was revived again during the Ming Dynasty following the Ming army's defeat by the Oirats in the Battle of Tumu 1449. The Ming had failed to gain a clear upper-hand over the Mongolian and Manchurian tribes after successive battles, and the long-drawn conflict was taking a toll on the empire. The Ming adopted a new strategy to keep the nomadic tribes out by constructing walls along the northern border of China. Acknowledging the Mongol control established in the Ordos Desert, the wall followed the desert's southern edge instead of incorporating the bend of the Huang He. 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 watchtowers and cannons added.

Later, the Han, Sui, Northern and Jin dynasties each repaired, rebuilt, or expanded sections of the Great Wall at a enormous cost to defend themselves against northern invaders.

1644 CE: Construction and repairs of the wall were suspended. A wall was built in the south to protect the chinese people from nomads and barbarians.

It is claimed that the Great Wall of China is the only man-made object visible from space or from the moon with the naked eye. This is not true. 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 Irwin and Jim Lovell.

Through Western contact with China from the 17th through 20th centuries, the fame of the Great Wall of China grew along with tourism to the wall. Restoration and rebuilding took place in the 20th century and in 1987 the Great Wall of China was declared a World Heritage Site. Today, a portion of the Great Wall of China about 50 miles (80 km) from Beijing receives thousands of tourists every day.