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Question: Is it true that the Great Wall of China was never used and never needed!?
Was the whole thing just a waste of time!?Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
The main purpose of the Great Wall was to
1!. keep nomadic raiders such as the Manchus, Mongols, Jurchens, etc out
2!. give the armies enough time to organize and counter larger threats

In this sense, the Great Wall was used and was successful!. The only problem was that during the decline of the empire, the nomads/raiders would often bribe the soldiers to let them through!. During the conquests of Ghenghis Khan, the wall did serve its purpose, but the northern half of the Song empire still eventually fell to the Mongols!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Its too simple to think of the wall as a fixed defence; the concept was more akin to a modern defence in depth with forward ad-hoc forts, the main wall and mobile garrisons several miles to the rear!. While the Chinese economy prospered and the huge outlays that were involved with maintaining the garrisons & fixed assets could be absorbed, it worked pretty well!. Nomadic raiding was curtailed to a large degree by the 15thC wall; a god send for the Ming armies which had been savaged in recent campaigns to the North!.

It was certainly used aplenty; however it eventually failed and had cost the Chinese state an untold amount in the meantime!. It may well be that it would not have been needed if the Ming government adopted a mor efficient operational approach to the Mongol/Manchu problem!. Www@QuestionHome@Com

Yes it was used all those little towers always had guards looking out for the invading mongols who loved pillaging/raiding and was a good way to stop them since they used to come in and out on horses they would have to stop and try to climb the wall and be seen and get stopped/ killed !. Now the chinese soldiers had a huge advantage by being able to see and just shoot down with arrows or spears from above!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

the great wall of china was built for their (ancient chinese) protection from the invading mongols!. Www@QuestionHome@Com