THINKING BIG : Seven Wonders of the Middle Ages
These structures were among those considered signficant by people living from the 5th to 15th centuries:
* The Colosseum of Rome
* The Catacombs of Alexandria, Egypt
* Stonehenge
* The Leaning Tower of Pisa
* The Porcelain Tower of Nanjing in China
* The Mosque of Hagia Sophia in Turkey
The Great Wall of China
Location: extends from Shanhaiguan on the Bo Hai (a gulf of the Yellow Sea) to Jiayuguan in the western Gansu province.
Length: 1,500 miles
Date: 3rd century BC
Builder: There is no one commisioner or builder of the Great Wall. Walls were build by feudal lords during the Chou dynasty; the first Ch’in emperor connected these walls. The most notable repairs and extensions were made during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644).
Description and Dimensions: So large is the Great Wall of China that it can actually be seen from space. The height of the Great Wall ranges from 20 feet to 50 feet, and its widths vary from 15 feet to 40 feet. Watchtowers are set at regular intervals; in earlier times troops were called to duty in the towers by beacon fires.
Construction: The wall was erected as a defensive barrier to keep nomadic tribes away. It is made primarily of earth and stone.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
