The Great Wall
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It is a wonder of the world. Every year, hundreds of thousands of tourists journey to the Great Wall of China, and a myriad of photographs have made it familiar to millions more. Yet its story remains mysterious and steeped in myth. In this riveting account, John Man travels the entire length of the Great Wall and across two millennia to find the truth behind the legend. Along the way, he delves into the remarkable and complex history of China—from the country's tribal past through its war with the Mongols to its present-day status as a resurgent superpower.
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Dispelling myths, clarifying history, exploring folk stories and legends.
Well presented, fairly quickly moving considering the volume of history to be covered, and readable.
The Great Wall is the only man-made structure visible from the moon... No, not visible from orbit, or the Moon or Mars.
The Great Wall... No, not one wall, many unlinked walls.
6000 km long... Well, how do you measure the multiple overlapping walls? What about the bits that aren't even walls, just embankments?
Over 2000 years old... Only parts of it, the commonly visited parts are a mere 500 years old.
Made of stone and bricks... Again, only parts of it, and the more modern parts.
Made to keep out barbarian raiders... Disputed - the Chinese were the original aggressors against Mongolia, and from refusal to trade, skirmishes began. And the wall, with all its gaps didn't repel the invading forces, they simply went around it. There were few exceptions, which are outlined in the book.
