Explore ancient Chinese architecture in Age of Empires IV, focusing on the evolution of walls and the construction of the Great Wall.
Walkthrough
- 1Understand that ancient Chinese architecture prioritized building walls for defense of villages and towns, and for dividing towns into sections to enhance authority control.
- 2Note that the earliest walls were constructed from earth tamped down between wooden slats.
- 3Recognize two major characteristics of Chinese architecture stemming from the use of earth: walls typically did not bear loads, and roofs featured generous overhangs to protect walls from water.
- 4Observe the improvement of walls with sun-dried bricks on their facings.
- 5Learn that by the end of the Warring States period, walls were improved with fire-baked bricks.
- 6Discover that the Great Wall of China was constructed after the unification in 221 B.C. for two primary purposes: to deter mounted barbarian attacks from the north, and as an outlet for the labor of men from the now-unnecessary massive armies.
Tips
- The use of tamped earth influenced architectural design, leading to load-bearing roofs and protective overhangs.
- The evolution of wall construction reflects technological advancements, from earth to sun-dried and then fire-baked bricks.
- The Great Wall served both defensive and socio-economic functions.
100% Human-Written. AI Fact-Checked. Community Verified. Learn how AntMag verifies content