Skip to main content

Primary sourceArtifact7th century BCE–present, Qin-era sections 3rd century BCE

Great Wall of China

7th century BCE–present, Qin-era sections 3rd century BCE

A vast system of fortifications; the Qin-era sections, ordered by Qin Shi Huang, joined earlier state walls into one barrier.

Qin Shi Huang ordered earlier walls linked together, making the wall a symbol of his unification and labour demands.

Ask Emperor Qin Shi Huang about this sourceView the original(opens in new tab)
Aerial view of the Great Wall of China at Jinshanling. Stone wall with watchtowers winds along a green forested ridge through hilly terrain, with mountains and cloudy sky in the background.
Great Wall of China, Qin-era sections 3rd century BCE; later rebuilt by subsequent dynasties.

About this source

What it is

The Great Wall of China is a network of fortifications built along the historical northern borders of Chinese states and empires. Earlier walls dating to the 7th century BCE were joined together under the Qin dynasty after Qin Shi Huang unified China in 221 BCE. Later dynasties, especially the Ming, expanded the wall further; the best-known sections visible today date from that later period.

Why it matters

Qin Shi Huang had General Meng Tian connect earlier state walls to defend against nomadic groups from the steppe, making the wall a lasting symbol of his unification of China and of the forced labour his projects required. It later became associated in Chinese memory with his reputation for harsh rule.

Look closer

  • Why would joining separate state walls into one line matter for a newly unified empire?
  • What does the wall's association with

This artifact is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Emperor Qin Shi Huang on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

More Emperor Qin Shi Huang sources

Meet the AI Emperor Qin Shi Huang →
Excavated pit of the Terracotta Army under a large covered hall. Rows of life-sized clay soldiers stand in long trenches separated by earthen walls, with some clay horses visible at right. Visitors watch from walkways at the edges.Sculpture

Primary source

Terracotta Army

c. 247–209 BCE

Wide view of a landscaped park on a sunny day: a paved plaza in front, a grass lawn, a rectangular hedge with a small white pavilion on a raised mound, tall cypress trees, a wooded hill behind, and groups of visitors.Artifact

Primary source

Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor

246–208 BCE

A rough, brownish stone-like weight with a knob on top, displayed in a glass case on a white base. A green patina inscription plaque with carved characters is set into its front face.Artifact

Primary source

Qin Iron Weight with Imperial Edict

221 BCE

A single narrow wooden or bamboo slip, pale yellow-tan, with a dark blackened top end and a pointed bottom end, mounted behind glass on a fabric-covered backing. Several lines of brown-black ink characters are written vertically down its face.Document

Primary source

Liye Qin Slips

Qin dynasty, 3rd century BCE

A photo of an open old Chinese bound book in a museum display case, with printed columns of classical text on the left page and handwritten calligraphy on the right page. Below is a placard with Chinese text titled Han Feizi.Book

Secondary source

Han Feizi

Han Fei · c. 3rd century BCE

Ready when you are

Start chatting with Emperor Qin Shi Huang now.

20 messages free · No credit card · Available in 50+ languages.

Trial Humy for freeGet a quote for institutions