HISTORYHISTORY

The history of the Great Wall is said The history of the Great Wall is said to start from the Spring and to start from the Spring and Autumn Periods when seven Autumn Periods when seven powerful states appeared at the powerful states appeared at the same time. In order to defend same time. In order to defend themselves, they all built walls and themselves, they all built walls and stationed troops on the borders. At stationed troops on the borders. At that time, the total length of the that time, the total length of the wall had already reached 3,107 wall had already reached 3,107 miles, belonging to different states.miles, belonging to different states.

THE SEVEN POWERFUL STATESTHE SEVEN POWERFUL STATESOF CHINA:OF CHINA:

1: Qin1: Qin 2: Qi, 2: Qi, 3: Chu3: Chu 4: Han4: Han 5: Yan5: Yan 6: Zhao6: Zhao 7: Wie7: Wie

Walls Built in the Spring and Autumn PeriodWalls Built in the Spring and Autumn Period (770 BC - 476 BC) (770 BC - 476 BC)

According to historical records, the first part of According to historical records, the first part of the Great Wall of China was built by Chu State. the Great Wall of China was built by Chu State. Chu State was a small state that gradually Chu State was a small state that gradually developed by conquering weak neighbors during developed by conquering weak neighbors during the Spring and Autumn Period. To control China the Spring and Autumn Period. To control China and prevent the intrusion of the Jin and Qi states, and prevent the intrusion of the Jin and Qi states, Chu State built a series of walls along its northern Chu State built a series of walls along its northern frontier in about 656BC. These boundary markers frontier in about 656BC. These boundary markers would eventually evolve into the Great Wall. would eventually evolve into the Great Wall. Shaped like a "U", the Wall of Chu was referred Shaped like a "U", the Wall of Chu was referred to as "the Rectangle Wall".to as "the Rectangle Wall".

Walls Built in the Warring States PeriodWalls Built in the Warring States Period (476BC-221BC)(476BC-221BC)Battles during the Spring and Autumn Periods Battles during the Spring and Autumn Periods and the Warring States Period occurred very and the Warring States Period occurred very often, particularly during the period of the "Seven often, particularly during the period of the "Seven Powers of the Warring States Period". Each state Powers of the Warring States Period". Each state was eager to set the boundaries of its territory. was eager to set the boundaries of its territory. To defend the state against invasion, they each To defend the state against invasion, they each built defense walls. With the increasing heat of built defense walls. With the increasing heat of the battles, the walls were continuously the battles, the walls were continuously extended. The "Seven Powers" of Qin, Qi, Chu, extended. The "Seven Powers" of Qin, Qi, Chu, Han, Yan, Zhao and Wei each built or extended Han, Yan, Zhao and Wei each built or extended their walls. Except for the Walls of Chu in the their walls. Except for the Walls of Chu in the Yangtze River valley, all the others were in the Yangtze River valley, all the others were in the Yellow River valley and Northern China areas.Yellow River valley and Northern China areas.

Owing to its long history, natural disasters Owing to its long history, natural disasters and human activities, many sections of the and human activities, many sections of the Great Wall are severely damaged and Great Wall are severely damaged and disappearing. Being a world-famous disappearing. Being a world-famous engineering project and witness to the rise engineering project and witness to the rise and fall of Chinese history, the Great Wall, and fall of Chinese history, the Great Wall, needs to take immediate action to protect needs to take immediate action to protect it!it!