WORLD HISTORY READERS Level 1-⑩ The Great Wall of China

The Great Wall It is the Great Wall of China. What is it? Is it one long wall? Many people think so, but it is actually many walls. If we count all its parts, the Great Wall is about 21,196 km long. But today, only about 6,259 km of the wall remains. How long is the Great Wall?

Building the Wall Who built the Great Wall? A map of ancient China Who built the Great Wall? The first people to build the wall started it over 2,700 years ago. They built the wall to protect themselves from others who might come and take their land. Then, in 221 BC, Qin Shi Huangdi, the first emperor of China, began the first major building of the wall.

Developing the Wall Is the Great Wall we see today the one Emperor Qin built? No, the original wall was repaired and extended many times by different dynasties that ruled China. The Ming Dynasty made the wall stronger in the 14th to 17th centuries. That wall lasted much longer than previous walls. Much of the wall fell down. Some parts of the wall have disappeared. People are repairing the Great Wall.

Why Was the Wall Built? Why did the people and rulers of China need the Great Wall? There are several reasons the wall was built. It defended China from being attacked by people from the north. It allowed the government to control (and tax) people moving back and forth across the wall. It was a good road for moving things and protecting travelers.

Who Built the Wall? Who were the people who actually worked on the Great Wall? The wall was built mostly by soldiers. Local people in different parts of China were also forced to work on the wall, often until they died. People who disagreed with the emperor were forced to work on the wall as punishment.

What is the Wall Made Of? What is the Great Wall made of? Originally, much of the wall was built with earth, but that kind of wall soon fell down. The wall we see today is mostly built of cut stone, bricks, and earth.

How Much Is Left Today? How much of the original Great Wall is left today? Only about 30% of the original wall can still be seen today. Some of it was destroyed by the weather. Sometimes stones were taken to build other buildings, and some of it has just fallen down.

The Great Wall in China Today Is the Great Wall still important to China today? Yes, it is! Nowadays, the Great Wall is one of China’s busiest tourist sights. Millions of people from all over the world come to walk on this piece of history.

Vocabulary collapse v. coast n. to fall down, sometimes breaking into pieces coast n. an area of land that is next to the sea

Vocabulary souvenir n. repair v. something you buy or keep to remember a special time or trip repair v. to build or make again something that was damaged

Vocabulary soldier n. bridge n. a person who works in an army a structure built over a river or road so that people or vehicles can cross

Vocabulary path n. materials n. a long strip of ground which people walk along materials n. things like earth or sand used to build things