The Great Wall of China 221 BC–AD 1644

Osprey Fortress #57

by Stephen Turnbull, Steve Noon (Illustrator)

The Great Wall of China is the most extensive and famous example of fortification in the world. Charting its development from construction in the 7th century BC through to the present day, this account reveals the true history of the wall, and explores the myths that surround it.

Stretching over 4,000 miles, the Great Wall began as a collection of defensive walls built by the northern vassal states under the Chou dynasty. With the unification of China in 221 BC the walls were interlinked and extended to fight off the invaders from the North. The wall as it is seen today is almost entirely the result of major renovations that started with the founding of the Ming Dynasty in 1368 AD and took 200 years to complete.

Included are details of what it was like to live within the wall, the ideas behind the defensive systems, how it was garrisoned and patrolled, and a discussion of how effective it was against attack. Through extensive examination of both ancient and modern sources, color maps, artwork and photographs, this book illustrates why the wall is one of the great wonders of the world.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Military History

64 pages, Paperback

First published January 30, 2007

About the author

Stephen Richard Turnbull is British a historian specializing in eastern military history, especially the samurai of Japan. His books are mainly on Japanese and Mongolian subjects. He attended Cambridge University where he gained his first degree. He currently holds an MA in Theology, MA in Military History and a PhD from the University of Leeds where he is currently a lecturer in Far Eastern Religions. He has also written a number of books on other medieval topics. He is semi-retired but still holds the post of Visiting Professor of Japanese Studies at Akita International University in Japan.

Reviews

[E L K Y · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well made and short book for anyone interested in the often unknown history of what is now one of the greatest structures the world has ever seen. The Czech translation of the book was very well made and everything was easy to read. As it is covering thousands of years of turbulent history in the chinese territory, be prepared that a load of information may be quite large - after all, its thousands of years.

[Tsai Wei-chieh · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like those colorful and detailed illustrations of the Great Wall. You can get a grip of the Great Wall after reading this book. But if someone want to know the detailed history, Waldron's The Great Wall of China would be a better choice. This book can be an introductory assignment for college students to learn the history of the relation between China and the nomads.

Sep 6, 2010

[Nathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative. Great art and suggestions for other books to read to learn more as well as see color photos.

[Sarahandus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absoluty facinating read.

[amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just got this book on Friday--I might add or subtract stars as I read. Lots of facts and photos.