A brief history of the Great Wall of China, begun about 2,200 years ago to keep out Mongol invaders.

*Includes pictures of the Great Wall of China and important people. *Includes ancient accounts and descriptions of the construction of the Great Wall of China. *Includes footnotes and a bibliography for further reading. *Includes a table of contents. "This territory is occupied by wandering tribes of heathen, who eat such people as they can catch, and for this reason no one enters their country or attempts to travel there. I saw nobody in this city who had been to the Great Wall, or who knew anybody who had been there." - Ibn Batuta, Moroccan explorer, c. 1345 The Great Wall of China is perhaps the wonder of the world that has most captured the human imagination, and as the quotes about it indicate, the wall has acquired special significance even outside of China. The places and ways in which it has taken hold vary greatly, but one thing is certain: the Great Wall of China is as amazing as it is mysterious, and it's as mundane as it is magical. Naturally, the Wall has become the most recognizable symbol of China, used for both aggrandizement and criticism. Nationalists see it as a symbol of China's peaceful nature, engineering capability, and historic longevity, while detractors see the Wall as the embodiment of China's backwardness, closed-mindedness, and hubris. While history allots arguments for the claims of each side, both of them are colored by Great Wall mythology and current geopolitical concerns. Though the wall can symbolize all of these things about China, it is important to remember that the many long walls. upon some of which the current landmark was constructed, were put up by specific people for specific purposes. The first step to a more accurate conception of the Wall is getting a better understanding of its name, because "The Great Wall of China" is a misleading label. More accurately, it may be called the "Great Walls of China," for several dynasties beginning early in Chinese history built fortifications of some kind, usually to the north. These constructions were alternately expanded, connected, dismantled, or neglected, depending on the circumstances and preferences of those in charge. In fact, the Chinese name wan li chang cheng gets closer to capturing the true nature of the wall(s). The name literally means 10,000-1/2 kilometers-long-wall, because 10,000 in Chinese is often shorthand for "many." The walls, measured separately and added up, actually span over 21,000 kilometers (13,000 miles), according to a 2007 government survey, a figure that includes all the known walls from all the dynasties without regard to current condition (even walls that have not stood for centuries were included). What this number explains more than anything is that the story of the Great Wall is very complex and closely tied to the whole of Chinese history, so parsing fact from fiction and rumor is tricky. The Great Wall of China: The History of China's Most Famous Landmark comprehensively looks at the history behind the wall and its construction. Along with pictures, you will learn about the Great Wall like never before, in no time at all.

Presents facts, photographs and information on the Great Wall of China.

Travel through time on an exhilarating expedition to China’s most famous landmark! The Great Wall of China is one of the world’s most intriguing, well-known treasures. Spanning 2,700 years and over 13,000 miles long, embark on the fascinating tale of how the Great Wall was built and how it became one of the greatest man-made projects of all time. This thrilling children’s book about this fascinating structure will leave you with newfound knowledge and appreciation for this amazing world wonder. It includes: • Exquisitely detailed panoramic artworks that show how the Great Wall of China has changed from one era to the next — from the first defensive forts created in 656 BCE to the 13,000 mile-long monument still standing today • Cutaway views that reveal the interior of forts and buildings • Every illustration is surrounded by pull-out details for children to look at, drawing them into the picture and making the book fun and interactive • Lively, engaging narrative text and simple annotations that guide children on a journey through time This informative book educates young readers about how the Great Wall was built and showcases the people that help build it. The wall, one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, started as a frontier defense against northern tribesmen and over the eras evolved to become the dynamic landmark that it is today. This educational history book also contains exceptional cutaway views revealing the interiors of important buildings, and pull-out details introducing fascinating facts and key characters. The time-traveling fox who appears in the artwork will have children inquisitively searching for the charming fox throughout the book. This makes for the perfect gift or collector’s item for children age 7 and up to learn about the Great Wall of China and its history. It is also perfect for parents looking for books on Chinese history to read with their children, and those planning on visiting the Great Wall of China who want to learn more about the landmark before or after their trip.

Get ready to blast back to the past and learn all about the Great Wall of China! When people think about the Great Wall of China, that massive structure is likely to come to mind. But why did they build the wall in the first place, and how is it even still standing? This engaging nonfiction book, complete with black and white interior illustrations, will make readers feel like they've traveled back in time. It covers everything from how the Wall was built to what life in China was like at that time, and more. Find out interesting, little-known facts such as how working on the wall was often a form of punishment, and how the wall is so long it could wrap around the world twice! The unique details along with the clever and humorous interior illustrations make this series stand out from the competition.

The Great Wall of China is a man-made wonder, spanning thousands of miles. It spreads from the Pacific Ocean in the East to the Gobi Desert and beyond in the west. Much of it has stood for hundreds of years, with some portions over 2000 years old. The Great Wall stood as a wall of defense for many years, against the warring states to the north. Then, in 1271, the Mongols invaded. Suddenly work on the wall came to a halt. While many parts of the wall are now in disrepair, many other parts have been restored or reconstructed. It still stands today as a great wonder of the world. Do you know: How old is the oldest part of the Great Wall? How long did it take to build the first Great Wall? How many workers died during construction of the Great Wall? Which dynasty built the longest wall? When was the wall we see today built? Find out the answers to these questions and more and amaze your family and friends with these fun facts. Ages 10 and up. All measurements in American and metric. Reading Level: 6.6 LearningIsland.com believes in the value of children practicing reading for 15 minutes every day. Our 15-Minute Books give children lots of fun, exciting choices to read, from classic stories, to mysteries, to books of knowledge. Many books are appropriate for hi-lo readers. Open the world of reading to a child by having them read for 15 minutes a day.

More than two thousand years ago, with his land under constant attack from nomads, the First Emperor of China came up with a simple solution: build a wall to keep out enemies. It was a wall that kept growing and growing. But its construction came at a huge cost: it is believed that more than a million Chinese died building it, earning the wall its nickname--the longest cemetery on earth. Through the story of the wall, Patricia Brennan Demuth is able to tell the story of China itself, the rise and fall of dynasties, the greatness of its culture, and its present-day status as a Communist world power.