How Was the Great Wall of China Defended?

Soldiers defended the Great Wall of China by standing guard over the wall from the watch towers. The wall also acted as a defense by itself as it was long, large and hard to cross.

Throughout history, civilizations have built amazing structures that still amaze us even today. One of these structures is the Great Wall of China. The Great Wall of China was built as a source of protection during the period of the Ming Dynasty (the Ming Dynasty ruled China from 368 to 1644.)

So, how was the Great Wall of China defended?

• The wall acted as protection for itself.
• Along the wall there are watchtowers that can be seen between every 100 and 200 feet. These watchtowers were used to house soldiers who protected China from invasion.
• Soldiers who were archers stood watch and fired upon any source of threat as it came near.

The archers were the main answer to how the Great Wall of China was defended.

More Facts About the Great Wall of China

Still today many find the Great Wall of China completely fascinating. Visitors flock to see this impressive masterpiece year after year and even return guests are amazed by it. The structure is fascinating for many reasons including:

• The Great Wall of China is the longest structure that has ever been built. The wall was erected and then added upon over the years. The original structure, at its height, wound from the northern east coast of China to central China. It was approximately 4,000 miles long, or 6,400 kilometers.
• The Great Wall of China is a completely man-made structure that extends along the Northern border of China to central China. Although some of it has crumbled over the years, much of the wall still remains intact as it did when it was originally erected.
• The highest section of the Great Wall of China is located on Mount Balding, which lies near Beijing. This section rises about 35 feet high and is about 25 feet wide at the base and 20 feet wide near the top.
• The various watchtowers that were used for protection stand approximately 40 feet tall.
• The structure is completely composed of bricks and mortar. However, the section that winds through the Mongolian Border Uplands is made from granite rock and the inside is filled with dirt.
• Between the walls there is a roadway also made up of bricks and mortar to provide a means of travel for the soldiers along the wall who were defending the wall from invasion.
• In some sections the wall winds through areas of desert. In these areas, brick and mortar were scarce. Instead of the wall being made with these materials, the wall was made with sand that was made wet and then packed securely to form the structure. 

So, now you know how the Great Wall of China was defended, as well as several other important facts about the Great Wall.