What Was The Purpose of The Great Wall? by

1. Why A Great Wall?

donnastanmore — 2024-10-15 06:21:12 UTC

The Great Wall of China was built on the borders of the land belonging to the Han (majority Chinese) people and the northern nomadic tribes. Its purpose was to prevent invasions from the nomadic tribes to the Central Plain of China.

3. Structural Features

donnastanmore — 2024-10-15 06:23:26 UTC

The average height of the Great Wall is 7.8 meters but it reaches about 14 meters in some sections. The width of the wall is about 4 to 5 meters. Its height and width make it very solid and this prevented any enemies from intruding. Most sections of the Great Wall were built on mountain ridges. This would exhaust an enemy army's effective strength by the time they reached the wall.

4. The Soldiers Played an Important Role in the Wall's Défense

donnastanmore — 2024-10-15 06:27:35 UTC

Smoke Signals from Watchtowers

The soldiers were stationed in the nearby fields and patrolled the Great Wall to watch for enemy movement. When they saw the enemy approaching, the soldiers on a beacon tower lit a 'wolf fire' (they burned wolf dung to make a fire/smoke signal).

Soldiers at neighboring towers could see the smoke/fire during the day/ night, alerting the troops that the enemy was coming and a battle was about to start.

2. Wonders of the Great Wall. (Main Features)

donnastanmore — 2024-10-15 06:29:40 UTC

Some interesting Facts.

4. Defence Strategies

donnastanmore — 2024-10-15 06:37:11 UTC

Archers were prepared with arrows when the enemy approached the wall and shot them from the nocks (arrow holes). Those who reached the wall were crushed by huge stones that were rolled off. These stones also prevented them from climbing the wall.

4. Ancient Chinese Archers.

donnastanmore — 2024-10-15 06:41:48 UTC

From the Shang Dynasty.

4. Horses on the Wall

donnastanmore — 2024-10-15 06:48:27 UTC

If enemies managed to get onto the wall, the defensive cavalry made it difficult for them to move. Some sections of the Great Wall were wide enough for four horses to ride abreast. Cavalry could charge into the attackers when the defending soldiers retreated to the towers. The horse wall provided cover for the soldiers, slowing the enemy assault, and giving time for more defenders to arrive.

4. Calling for Reinforcements.

donnastanmore — 2024-10-15 06:53:38 UTC

While slowing an enemy attack with a cavalry charge and more arrow fire from adjacent towers, reinforcements would be called to defend a breach. The Great Wall was used for communication and rapid redeployment of a garrison. It was much quicker to travel along the wall top than on the surrounding mountainside