How many people died building the Great Wall?

The exact number of people who died during the construction of the Great Wall of China is unknown; however, it is estimated that up to 1,000,000 people lost their lives. Over 2000 years ago, Emperor Qin commanded the original construction of the Great Wall of China.

The belief was that this wall would keep China safe from invasion from northern territories. The construction included the labor of 300,000 soldiers, 500,000 civilians and numerous criminals. It took place over a 20-year period. The first wall was made of compressed earth and stone, while the wall built during the Ming Dynasty was made of brick. The Ming wall was built over 200 years time.