A Monumental Project by the First Chinese Emperor
The Great Wall was not built in one era. Rather, it took shape and underwent upgrades over many centuries, with its earliest origins dating back to the 3rd century BCE. At that time, Qin Shi Huang - of the Qin dynasty and the first emperor of a unified China - rose to power.
He did not embark on this massive venture out of mere vanity. His chief goal was to protect the newly formed empire from various nomadic tribes, particularly the Huns. Consequently, the Wall served primarily as a defensive barrier.
It also stood as a powerful symbol, marking the boundary between the Chinese realm and what was considered the “barbarian” world - much like the Romans used Hadrian’s Wall.
Construction Progress
It is clear that creating something so imposing had to be incredibly challenging and costly. Moreover, time was of the essence, as the young empire needed swift protection. Given these pressures, builders primarily used whatever materials were locally available.
As a result, the Wall initially had no uniform appearance: some sections were built with stone blocks, while others incorporated clay or even reed - anything at hand.
The Builders
Although skilled engineers were responsible for the Wall’s overall design, the bulk of the labor was provided by ordinary citizens in the early stages. Eager to finish the project quickly, the first emperor reportedly conscripted as many as 3.5 million of his subjects - allegedly around two-thirds of the population at the time.
While many historians believe these numbers are exaggerated, they illustrate the vast scale of the workforce.
Driven to meet the emperor’s demands, a significant number of workers lost their lives due to accidents and harsh conditions. Estimates suggest that around half a million laborers may have died in the initial construction phase.
Over time, the Wall kept growing longer and was steadily fortified. During the Ming dynasty (14th - 17th centuries CE), it saw its final major overhaul. Unlike the earlier forced labor, soldiers and skilled artisans of that era were actually paid for their work.
