Why Was the Great Wall of China Built?
The Great Wall of China is one of the most iconic and impressive feats of architecture in human history. It is a symbol of China's rich cultural heritage and has come to represent the spirit and resilience of the Chinese people. But what was the purpose of the Great Wall of China, and why was it built?
Why did They Build the Great Wall of China?
The Historical Background
The construction of the Great Wall of China began in the seventh century B.C. The reasons for this are related to the political, military and cultural factors in ancient China.First, from a political perspective, the Great Wall was an important means for successive dynasties to consolidate power and maintain unity. In ancient China, conflict and integration between the nomadic peoples in the north and the farming peoples in the central plains were the norm. In order to fend off the intrusion of the northern nomads, building the Great Wall is a necessary decision for succeeding dynasties.
Secondly, from a military point of view, the Great Wall, as a defence system, effectively slowed down the enemy's attack and won valuable preparation time for the armies of the Middle kingdoms. At the same time, the construction of the Great Wall also facilitated the advancement of military technology and the innovation of war strategies, which made the Central Plains Dynasties more capable of defending themselves against northern nomads.
Finally, the Great Wall is a treasure of Chinese culture.
War Defence
The Great Wall of China was built over 2500 years ago to protect China's northern borders from invading armies. The reasons why the great wall of china was built was to serve as a barrier between the Chinese Empire and the nomadic tribes that lived in the northern regions of China. These tribes were known for their military prowess and often launched raids and invasions into Middle Land’s territory.
The most powerful of these nomads was the Xiongnu (Huns, 匈奴), an alliance of several tribes. They reached their heyday between the 3rd century BC and the 2nd century AD, and had many wars with the Middle Kingdoms. The Xiongnu were very strong fighters, specializing in mounted archery and raiding. They often attacked suddenly when the Central Plains armies were unprepared, causing great losses and panic.
In order to stop the invasion of Xiongnu, the rulers of the Middle Kingdoms adopted many different countermeasures. One of the most important and effective methods was the Great Wall. The main purpose of the Great Wall was to use the terrain and artificial barriers to block the movement of the Xiongnu cavalry, making their attack more difficult and costly.
The earliest walls were built in the 7th century BC during the Zhou Dynasty and were made of earth and stone. They are believed to successfully carry out missions to protect the Chinese Empire from the northern nomadic tribes. During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, the great powers defended each other for hegemony. According to their respective defensive needs, they built the Great Wall on their borders, the first one was the "Chu Great Wall" in the 7th century B.C. After that, Qi, Han, Wei, Zhao, Yan, Qin, Zhongshan and other large and small vassal states built the Great Wall one after another for self-defense.
Later, Qin annexed the six kingdoms and unified the country, establishing the first unified, multi-ethnic centralized state in Chinese history. In order to maintain and consolidate the security of the unprecedentedly unified empire, Qin Shi Huang took a series of major strategic measures for defense construction and border guarding, one of which was the large-scale construction of the Great Wall of China.
During the Ming Dynasty, the Great Wall of China was expanded and improved upon. The wall was made taller and wider, and additional watchtowers and fortresses were added. The Ming Dynasty also built barracks along the wall, which housed soldiers who were responsible for patrolling and defending the wall.
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Transport and Trade
Although the original reason for the construction of the Great Wall was to hell the invasion of nomads from the north. In addition to being a military fortress, the Great Wall also had other uses, such as serving as an important trade route, commerce barrier and tax collection site.
In Jiayuguan City, Gansu Province, the old and majestic Jiayuguan Fort was the western starting point of the Great Wall of China during the Ming Dynasty and one of the most important passes on the Silk Road.
Outside Jiayuguan is the Western Regions, where a variety of goods and cultural customs from the East and the West gather.
As a trade road across the north, the Great Wall of China also promoted the cultural and economic exchanges between China and foreign countries.
How did the Great Wall Help in Ancient Warfare Effectively?
During the Cold Weapons era for two millenniums, the Great Wall played an important role in wartime. After we learn why the Great Wall of China was built, it is easy to understand that one of the primary purposes of the Great Wall of China was to serve as a deterrent to potential invaders.
It was designed to intimidate and discourage potential invaders from attempting to breach China's borders. Also served as a line of defense, the Great Wall allowed Middle Kingdom soldiers to detect and intercept enemy forces before they could reach China's heartland.
What’s more, the Great Wall of China served as a means of communication and transportation during the war. The signal towers allowed soldiers to communicate with each other over long distances, and helped to supervise and report on the war. In ancient times, transporting grain was very important. Thanks to the Great Wall that was also used as a gain transportation route, soldiers could move quickly and safely along the wall, bypassing difficult terrain and potential ambushes.
No matter what reasons why the Great wall of China was built initially. Today, it has come to symbolize the strength and resilience of the Chinese people. One of the seven wonders in the world, it is a testament to the ingenuity and perseverance of the builders who constructed the wall over many centuries. Enduring for more than two thousand years, the Great Wall has become a cherished symbol of China's cultural heritage.