Why did Emperor Qin build the Great Wall of China?
The history of the Great Wall of China is as bloody and gruesome as the history of ancient Chinese civilization itself. Construction of the Wall began in the third century B.C. when the first Emperor of China, Qin Shih Huang Di engaged in a bloody battle and ultimately succeeded in uniting what was known as “the Warring States.” For the first time, China was unified. But with enemies all around, particularly the Mongols encroaching from the North, Emperor Qin set about to strengthen his defenses. He gathered a work force consisting of 200,000 convicts and 100,000 soldiers and commissioned them to build a barrier that would thwart all enemies. It took 10 years to construct this wall, often referred to as the first Great Wall of China. During this time, thousands of workers would die from exposure to the elements and fatigue. Others died from enemy military action that cropped up during the building of the wall. And still other workers were put to death at the end of the construction pro
