Great Wall of China: Characteristics
- Before the Ming Dynasty, the Great Wall was mostly made of rammed earth, stones, and wood. However, during the Ming Dynasty, bricks became widely used in many parts of the wall, along with materials like tiles, lime, and stone. Bricks were easier to handle than earth and stone, which sped up construction. They could also bear more weight and endure better than rammed earth. While stone is strong, it’s harder to work with, so rectangular stones were used for the foundation, brims, and gateways of the wall.
- Most of the wall features battlements along the top, with gaps for defense measuring a little over 30 cm tall and about 23 cm wide. Guards stationed on the parapets could watch the surrounding land for any signs of trouble.
- Sticky rice mortar, made from sticky rice soup mixed with lime, was commonly used to bind the bricks together. Contrary to legend, no human bones or body parts were ever used in the construction of the wall or its mortar.
- Communication between army units along the wall was crucial for coordinating reinforcements and warning of enemy movements. Signal towers were built on high points along the wall for visibility. Wooden gates could also be used as traps. Barracks, stables, and armories were constructed near the inner surface of the wall.
- The Great Wall of China cannot be seen by the naked human eye from the Moon.
Great Wall of China Section
The Great Wall stretches like a massive dragon across deserts, grasslands, and mountains, spanning 21,196 kilometers (13,170 miles) from Jiayuguan Pass in the west to Hushan Mountain in Liaoning in the east. It passes through ten provinces and cities, including Qinghai, Gansu, Ningxia, Shaanxi, Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, Hebei, Beijing, Tianjin, and Liaoning. Throughout its several thousand years of history, from the Warring States to the Ming Dynasty, the wall has seen many changes.
In this article, we will get to know more about this wonder of the world along with some information about its various sections.
Let’s delve into it!
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