The Great Wall of China remains the single largest construction project of all time. Built and maintained over two thousand years, it was the Middle Kingdom’s first (and often last) line of defence against an array of northern tribes, for whom the wealth and vulnerability of China’s settled population often proved too tempting to resist. At its zenith under the Ming (1368 – 1644), this incredible barricade stretched some 4,000 miles westward in a single, unbroken line from China’s eastern seaboard, over windswept mountain ranges and parched desert, to the citadel of Jiayuguan – an imperial stronghold along the ancient Silk Road. In addition to giving a good synopsis of its place in history, this 50-minute program introduces the Wall’s overall plan, key defensive features, and contemporary imperial policies, which included the stationing of soldiers and their families at strategic watchtowers through multiple generations. While the Great Wall...