November 14, 2011

Great Wall of China (largest cemetery)



The Great Wall of China was worked on for over 1700 years. So with each emperor who came to power pieces of the wall were added to protect their dynasties. Contrary to what was believed the wall is not a solid wall. It was a line of disconnected barricades.


When the Qin Dynasty ruled (221 – 206 B.C.E.), Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi wanted a much better defense barricade to protect his empire from invaders from the Northwest. Emperor Qin wanted a strong wall 30 feet wide and 50 feet high. In order to accomplish such tasks many laborers were needed. Emperor Qin used peasants, captured enemies, criminals, scholars, and anyone else to work on the Great Wall without pay. It was slave labor.


I can see how Emperor Qin’s idea to protect his empire made sense but at the same time at what cost? Over 3,000 people worked on the Great Wall for the Qin Dynasty, but it is believed that over 1 million have died during the construction of all parts of the Great Wall. If the wall was to protect the empire then why would they kill their own to build it? I agree the Great Wall itself was a good idea to see any possible invaders from afar and be able to send signals to where the invaders were heading, but not at the cost of the lives of the very people they were to protect. I disagree with using peasants or scholars instead of just using criminals or enemies they captured to work off their punishment.


It’s been said that every foot of wall took one human life. After all the years and evolution of humans, science, medicine, etc. we would think we would never see this kind of disregard for human life again but sadly it still exists all over the world.

10 comments:

  1. Very interesting blog, I wanted to write about the wall. Alas, I could not. But I do agree with your take on this topic 100%. Well, not 100%, probably 80%. 85%, 86%. 90%, lets say 90%. The Great Wall was a great idea for protection against the infamous Hun Army and other invaders. With fire signals and 1 million soldiers posted at the wall almost daily. And yes, the killing of thousands to complete its construction is definitely not worth the risk. However, I do not think that Emperor Qin cared at all about his citizens dying to complete such a task. Knowing that his word was law and the fact that he was just trying to protect his wonderful and prosperous country, he probably just shunned at the idea of possibly losing a couple thousand of his people. History does seem to repeat itself. Take the pharaohs of Egypt for example. They had thousands of slaves worked and killed to build pyramids to house their dead rich bodies and filled it with treasures. So to have thousands working on a wall to protect the country might seem trivial by comparison. I guess the real question would be which do you prefer? Building a grand scale tribute to my awesome power and leadership for the world to see after I die? Or building a great wall for the protection of our land with great pride and honor and a sense of duty? Please do not make me choose. Jamel (group 1)

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    1. I do not agree because they didn't kill their own, they all died while building the great wall of china actually.!

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    2. what the hell are you talking about you silly moron? They stole the men and worked them till they died with no pay... the mens wives were raped as they were left alone in their farms and the children were starved to death as there was no fathers? This is called murder as well as cold blooded and sinful to the peasants..and to the scholars of their country you pathetic imbecile! Also the fukin 1 billion chinese walk on there without showing any remorse or respect to their deae as that was their fukin ancestors you idiots!!

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    3. How dare you comment that the Pharaohs had thousands of slaves worked and killed to build pyramids ? You know nothing of the history when the Pharaohs actually paid and fed their people unlike your selfish Emperors who starved and killed over a million of your own race which you mention the Emperor shunned a few thousand? You selfish spineless fool! How can you shunn a million people? No wonder you are the worst race that is next to the Americans who were clearly another messed up race just as yourselves! who cannot admit their failures to their own people.. you should be ashamed of yourselves you idiots.. god have mercy on you selfish people who think and talk like that! ?

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  2. Stefanie Cianci group 3November 23, 2011 at 9:06 PM

    I enjoyed reading this blog. The facts and ideas you gave are great. The Great Wall of China has always been an interest of mine. I think it is fascinating how far the wall stretches and the great lengths people went through to build this wall. I do agree with your view point on people dying; however, the wall was built to keep the Huns out and if they had not put up a barrier people would have died regardless due to attacks. I don`t agree with how Emperor Qin forced the labor on people. Like you mentioned in your blog,he should have used criminals not ordinary citizens. Your blog looks outstanding, the pictures you chose are perfect. Your blog was very informative and i enjoyed reading it.

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    1. You do know the wall didn't work to keep the Huns out?

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  3. I also agree 100% all of it on point luv it!!!!!!!!!

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  4. cool helped me with assignment

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  5. you ppl are so funny XD

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