⏰ when
When Was Construction of the Great Wall of China Started?
historyarchitecture
Quick Answer
The earliest walls were built around the 7th century BC, with major construction under Qin Shi Huang from 221 BC.
The Full Story
Individual Chinese states began building defensive walls as early as the 7th century BC. When Emperor Qin Shi Huang unified China in 221 BC, he ordered existing walls linked and extended to protect against northern nomads. Most of the iconic wall visible today dates from the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644). Contrary to myth, the wall is not visible from space with the naked eye. The total length of all wall sections ever built is estimated at over 21,000 km by Chinese surveys.
Key Facts
1.The Ming Dynasty walls stretch about 8,850 km.
2.Hundreds of thousands of labourers — possibly over a million — worked on the Qin-era walls.
3.The wall was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.
YouTube Angle
Suggested video title for this topic:
"Building the Great Wall — 2,000 Years of Fortification"