How useful was the Great Wall of China? If so, how long

It's pretty useful right now for tourism I'd say

>>1086281

Well I mean in its original purpose.

Walls work. Just ask Israel.

>>1086271
I don't know about the Ming wall.

One theory that I like by Nicola di Cosmo though flips the logic of the "wall" upside down. He argued that ancient rulers of Warring States who built "walls" and the Qin dynasty which connected those walls were not doing so for purely defensive purposes. The "walls" also served as garrison outposts for soldiers on the frontier, and could be bases of operations of sorts for aggressive campaigns versus adversaries of the North. Throughout the wars between the Qin and Han and the Xiongnu, the Chinese people were often going on the offensive. Similarly, the warlords of the Warring States/Spring and Autumn also saw territorial expansion on the periphery as a way to get an edge over their rivals.

>>1086271
It didn't keep the invaders out, but it took time to get horses and other equipment from one side to the other and the towers weren't close enough repel an assault, but they were close enough to enable smoke, flag, and light-based long range communication.

>>1086271
The Ming Wall most definitely worked.

It only fell when the Dynasty did and Northern Garrison Commander, Wu Sangui, cut a deal with Nurhachi, prince of the Manchus, to save his life versus Rebel leaders.

>>1086281
>crowded as fuck with people hawking shit

damn it

>>1086301

You're right, Israel is a peaceful land and everyone loves them.

>>1086624
what kind of a dumb non-response is this? the wall has been incredibly successful, that's why 'terrorism' has been reduced to random knife attacks. it's also very recent and built long after any of the wars israel has had. also, do you think the chinese built their wall because the mongols and manchus loved them?