logo
episode-header-image
Mar 2021
1m 48s

Why was the Great Wall of China built?

Choses à Savoir
About this episode
Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Great Wall of China is the largest construction undertaken by man. Built, for the most part, between the 3rd century BC and the 17th century AD, it was intended to protect a unified China from invasions from the north. According to the latest official estimates, the Chinese Wall extends over 20,000 kilometers. The Great Wall is composed of walls averaging a height of six to seven meters, and also features ditches and natural barriers such as rivers or mountains.

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Apr 2021
How heavy are the clouds?
The clouds we see in the sky seem rather light, almost like absorbent cotton. However, being filled with water and ice, these gigantic suspended masses weigh - in reality - up to several tons. Don't be fooled by appearances, the clouds that float above your heads are more like an ... Show More
2m 13s
Apr 2021
What is the Rowbotham experiment?
Long before Magellan completed the first circumnavigation of the globe, in the 16th century, ancient Greek scientists had demonstrated, by simple observation, that the Earth was round, or rather spherical. Of course, this did not prevent some people from believing that our planet ... Show More
2m 18s
Apr 2021
Why is biting foil unpleasant?
As you may have already noticed, if you bite aluminum foil, the strange sensation of heat or pain in your teeth is quite unpleasant. This is due to the contact between the aluminum and the metals that make up the fillings in some teeth. If you feel a tingling sensation when bitin ... Show More
2m 19s
Recommended Episodes
May 2024
The Great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China is one of the architectural wonders of the world. Stretching for over 21,000km - as far as London to New York and back, twice - it follows what used to be the border between China and Mongolia. Built over a period of 2,000 years by millions of conscripted ... Show More
55m 3s
Mar 2025
The Great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China is one of the architectural wonders of the world. Stretching for over 21,000km - as far as London to New York and back, twice - it follows what used to be the border between China and Mongolia. Built over a period of 2,000 years by millions of conscripted ... Show More
53m 35s
Mar 2024
Great Wall of China
<p>It's one of the most iconic structures in the world: The Great Wall of China.</p><br><p>But is it just one wall? And who built it and why? Today, Tristan Hughes is joined by William Lindesay OBE to delve into the ancient history of this epic structure and to answer these quest ... Show More
55m 19s
Dec 2015
The Great Wall of China Episode
<p>The Great Wall of China is one of the most visited tourist desinations in the world. How'd it get built? How old is it? What's the current condition? Learn this and more in today's episode.</p><p> </p> Learn more about your ad-choices at <a href="https://www.iheartpodcastnetwo ... Show More
40m 22s
Aug 2022
38 History of Everything: The Great Wall
Enjoy this sneak peak into an extra episode that gets released for my patrons every week. If you want more content then make sure to check out my patreon and youtube! In c. 220 B.C., under Qin Shi Huang, sections of earlier fortifications were joined together to form a united de ... Show More
42m 13s
Oct 2022
299 - The Great Wall in Chinese with ShaoLan and Super Chineasian Charlie Hoffs
Chineasy aims to “break the great wall of misunderstanding” between the east and west and in this episode, Charlie Hoffs discovers the origins of “the Great Wall” in Chinese with ShaoLan. 🔥 Download the Chineasy app for free and dive deeper into Chinese culture and language. Che ... Show More
8m 38s
Sep 2025
The Great Call of China!
Episode Description: When a flyer leads Max and Molly to new POG activity, Aunt M sends them to the Great Wall of China in 1601. There, they discover that what locals think is a terrifying “monster” is actually a POG transmission antenna. With the Commander eager to take credit, ... Show More
19m 48s