New7Wonders: The Great Wall of China

Today’s Video Of The Day celebrates another one of the New7Wonders of the World: The Great Wall of China.

This spectacular wall, running east-to-west across the northern Chinese border, has a rich history of over 2,000 years. The Great Wall of China was built to protect the Chinese empires and states against invasions from nomadic groups, and also allowed Chinese leadership to manage trade regulations along the Silk Road.

The now sprawling, contiguous wall actually began as a number of smaller, individual walls, built beginning in the 7th century BC.

It wasn’t until the Ming dynasty era (1368 – 1644) that the Great Wall began to take shape, following a brutal and taxing conflict against Mongolian tribes. In an effort to keep the tribes out for good, the Ming began construction on a series of walls along the border. While earlier walls consisted of rammed earth, the Ming began using bricks and stone, making the new walls much more secure.

The Ming also introduced watchtowers to keep an eye on any potential threat of attack. Up to 25,000 watchtowers were eventually added along the wall.

Today, The Great Wall of China spans over 13,000 miles in length. It is estimated that over 70,000 tourists visit the wall each day.

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