China DBQ

1
Kai Wong
Mrs. Bruner
Social Studies
19 March 2016
EQ: The Great Wall of Ancient China: Did the benefits outweigh the costs?
Over two and one half million people, farmers, and soldiers died in the construction of
the Great Wall of Ancient China. This magnificent wall was mainly developed during the Qin
Dynasty (221 BCE to 206 BCE ) and the Han Dynasty (206 BCE to 220 CE). Emperor Qin was
the founder of the Qin Dynasty who captured many regions of China, creating his powerful
empire. He also forced commoners and peasants to assemble the wall, throughout the day and
the night for many straight years, for he believed that people should be enslaved to the
government to construct and work on these massive builds. His reasoning was that if no one
participated, what would protect China? After the end of the Qin, the Han Dynasty continued to
extend the enormous wall because they wanted to protect their empire and cities from the fierce
Xiongnu, who resided along the northern border of the wall. To the Han, the best way they
believed to defend against these “barbarians” was to extend the wall. Walls made the Chinese
feel comfortable and safe, knowing the protection would travel a long way. The Qin and Han
used hang-t’u, pounded-earth, for construction what we know today as the Great Wall of China.
This well known structure is not only a single wall, but a network of walls that were created over
about 2,500 years total within various dynasties. One benefit of this architectural border was that
2
it allowed cultures of other nations to be shared with the Chinese. However, this pro would not
be possible without the sacrifices of time, money, lives, and materials. Did the advantages of the
Great Wall exceed the disadvantages? Although the Great Wall of Ancient China protected the
Chinese form the “barbarian-like” Xiongnu, I know the Great Wall was definitely not worth the
cost for reasons including, many Chinese died in the construction, it consumed much time,
money, and effort, and the working conditions were very severe.
One aspect of why I believe that the Great Wall of China was not worth the construction
is because many Chinese faced death. I read in Document E, “Heavy fighting against the
Xiongnu during much of 2nd century BCE. One campaign in 104 BCE reported 80 percent Han
casualties, a terrible cost of protecting the wall.” This proves that many people sacrificed their
lives throughout the construction of the wall. 80% of the Han were casualties. Also,while the
Chinese were building the wall, they still had to deal with the pesky Xiongnu. This explains why
many soldiers died, contributing to even more deaths. In the text it states, “We fight south of the
wall, we die north of the wall” and also “The cavalry fight to the death…” (Doc. F). This
supports that many generals, warriors, and soldiers gave their lives so the wall would be built.
Also, this demonstrates how brutal the fights were, hence “the cavalry fight to the death”, and
how much pain soldiers had to tolerate.
To continue, another reason I believe the wall was not worth the cost is because it
consumed much time, money, and effort. In fact, according to Document A’s sidebar, the Great
Wall is about 4,000 miles long and took over 400 years to build (206 BCE - 220 CE). This
explains that the wall must have consumed much materials because it is estimated at an
incredible 4,000 miles long. Also, since it took two dynasties and 400 years to build, much time
3
was consumed. Stated in Document E, “...There was heavy use of peasants laborers, who
worked seven-day work weeks with little food.” This demonstrates the amount of effort the
builders put into the wall. They were forced to work seven days a week with very little food and
water. Finally, on Document C the chart proves that as the years go on, the more the tributes
increase. These tributes are only the Han giving free items to the Xiongnu Mongols. They
received no items in turn. This illustrates how there were many costs.
Lastly, the working conditions were very severe. In Document E I found, “Tens of
thousands of soldiers died from hunger, sickness, and extreme heat or cold” This illustrates that
the working environment was very cruel and harsh, so much that it caused millions of deaths. As
stated in the text, “During the short ten-year period of Qin wall-building, there was heavy use of
peasant laborers, who worked seven-day work weeks with little food. During the eight months
of winter, temperatures reached 20- to 30-below zero, Fahrenheit” (Doc. E). To summarize, the
temperatures were very grim on the side of the peasants. I read in the text, “If the rice isn’t
harvested, how will you eat?” (Doc. F). This explains that farmers were forced out of their fields
to build the Great Wall of China. This caused conflict, if the farmers could not harvest their
crops then how could China survive as a nation.
As proven in these paragraphs, the costs definitely overweight the benefits because there
were high mortalities, the sacrifices were extreme, and the working conditions were devastating.
China had to put all of their work into the wall and the outcome was definitely not worth the
effort. Even though the Great Wall of Ancient China encouraged exchange of ideas, the
numerous amounts of death outnumber the benefits. Not many advantages were offered in return
for the major sacrifices. With the money and time, other advantages could have been funded,
4
such as new inventions, advancements in architecture, and improvement of the economic system.
To conclude, I strongly believe that the Great Wall of China was obviously not worth the cost,
the costs outweighing the benefits.

China DBQ

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

China DBQ

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

China DBQ

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

1

how much pain soldiers had to tolerate.

crops then how could China survive as a nation.

the costs outweighing the benefits.

You might also like