For centuries mankind has innovated. The wheel, the sword, the gun, the car. All are inventions that have changed the world. But one construction has no inventor. It was born of pure instinct: the wall. Among the millions of walls constructed since the dawn of humanity, one stands out as one of the greatest wonders of the world, the Great Wall of China. But why was this particular wall built? The Great Wall, although built as a defensive structure, was not effective as such. However, it has since become a powerful visual emblem of China's identity in the Western imagination (Lovell, 10). Its name in Chinese literally means "10000 li wall." Because of its sheer size the Great Wall is steeped in popular legend and mythology, the most famous myth being quoted as the only man made structure visible from orbit. Although untrue this myth was still in Chinese schoolbooks...