Secrets Of The Great Wall | Ancient China From Above | National Geographic

This paragraph introduces the Great Wall of China, highlighting its daunting and awe-inspiring presence. Alan Maca, an archaeologist and ancient civilization expert, is on a mission to uncover the secrets of China's distant past from a new perspective—space. Using state-of-the-art satellites, the world sees the Great Wall in stunning detail, revealing hidden archaeology that was invisible to the naked eye. Maca and his team, in collaboration with leading Chinese experts, will travel to remote landscapes to investigate previously unknown cultures, lost cities, and devastating cataclysms, showcasing Ancient China like never before.

The paragraph delves into the strategic defenses of the Ming Dynasty, detailing how they built the Great Wall to keep out invaders like the Mongols. It describes the wall's features, such as watchtowers and hidden holes for rolling down rocks filled with gunpowder to deter invaders. The use of satellite and drone technology today allows experts to create 3D models of the Ming Dynasty Wall, uncovering its full extent and the remarkable engineering feats in extreme terrains. The new scans reveal the Ming's incredible achievements and the discovery of mysterious openings that could have been used as secret tunnels for ambushes.

This section discusses the Great Wall's termination at the fortress near the modern city of Jayaguan, marking the furthest reach of the Ming Dynasty's empire. The fortress, a marvel of engineering and power, is explored, revealing its sophisticated design for defense with a deep moat, high walls, and watchtowers. The fortress served as the final gateway, with a legend about its construction precision involving a single remaining brick. The use of satellite images helps reconstruct the Ming Wall's extension, leading to the discovery of a massive construction far greater than the towers along the way.

The paragraph focuses on the exploration of the Great Wall's further reaches into the desert, beyond the fortress of Jiuguan. Canadian archaeologist Sarah Klassen and her team use satellite data to investigate another section of the wall, suggesting it could be older than the Ming Dynasty's construction. The team ventures into the Kumtag Desert to find remnants of an even older wall, built with a different material and technique, hinting at a much earlier Great Wall of China from over 2,000 years ago.

This segment uncovers the existence of an even earlier Great Wall built by the Han Dynasty, predating the Ming Dynasty's wall by 1,500 years. The discovery of distinctive arrowheads typical of the Han Dynasty confirms the age of this ancient wall. The wall's purpose extended beyond defense, protecting the Silk Road, an essential trade route that brought immense wealth to China. The great wall served as a barrier and a guardian of China's access to global trade, with the latest technology revealing the wall's true scale and complexity.

The paragraph explores the intricate communication system of the Great Wall, which included beacon towers for early warning signals of attacks. The team investigates a mysterious tower near an ancient section of the wall, using drone technology to create a detailed 3D model. The discovery of wooden slips with instructions for soldiers at the towers reveals a complex system of signaling using flags and fires to communicate the presence and size of enemy forces. The towers were part of a vast network that stretched for hundreds of miles, providing a remarkable defense mechanism for ancient China.

This section delves into the story of China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang Di, and his creation of the Terracotta Army, reflecting his immense power and ambition. The emperor's mausoleum complex, including the terracotta warriors, is explored, revealing its vast scale and the potential contents of the unopened tomb, backed by seismic scanning technology. The paragraph also discusses the emperor's construction projects, including the first Great Wall of China, and the human cost of his ambition, setting the stage for the evolution of the Great Wall as we know it today.

The final paragraph investigates the origins of the Great Wall, tracing it back to the Warring States period before the unification of China. It reveals that each state built its own defensive walls, which were later combined and extended by Qin Shi Huang Di to create the first true Great Wall of China. The paragraph discusses the evolution of the wall over centuries, showing that it was not a single structure but a series of walls built by different dynasties. The use of satellite imagery and advanced technology has unveiled that the Great Wall is even more extensive than previously thought, stretching over 13,000 miles and serving as a testament to China's enduring legacy.