Grand Canal is a series of waterways in eastern and northern China from Beijing and ending in the city of Hangzhou in Zhejiang province, linking the Yellow River to the Yangtze River. Stretches approximately 1.800 km, is the longest artificial waterway in the world, and is one of the largest civil engineering projects and the most extensive in the world before the Industrial Revolution.
At its peak, the grand canal has a length of over 1.800 km, connecting the five major river flow areas of China. This canal was built to enable the transportation of agricultural surplus from the Yangtze and Huai river valleys rich in agriculture, to feed the capital and large forces in northern China. Since then, he has played an important role in ensuring trade and cultural exchange between northern and southern regions of China and is still used today as the primary means of communication.
This canal was built in different areas in different periods, ranging from the 5th century BC, but in the 7th century massive expansion carried out, under the direction of Emperor Yang of the Sui dynasty, making the canal becomes to be larger and longer as it is known today. Emperor Yang needed a way to move the rice from the fertile area around the Yangtze River to feed the capital and its forces are constantly fighting the nomadic tribes.
More than 3 million farmers are forced to work to build the canal, watched by thousands of soldiers. The project was completed within six years, but at that time, about half of the workers died from exhaustion due to hard labor and starvation. But in spite of all the atrocities, the canal proved indispensable to the movement of food supplies. In the year 735, almost 150 million kilograms of agricultural products delivered each year along the canal. Other goods, ranging from cotton to porcelain, also traded, assist in the development of China's economy.
When the Mongol Yuan dynasty (1271-1368) moved the capital of China to Beijing, it needs to reach the western arm of the canal to Luoyang, Kaifeng or lost. A shortcut created in Shandong province which shorten the length of the Grand Canal as much as 700 km, and form the current canal.
In the middle of the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) canal was overhauled, and fifteen sluice made in western Shandong. At this time the troop transport empire has grown to 15,000 ships and employs 160,000 troops which provides power to pull the barges are loaded when needed. Repair row on the canal allows the authorities to more easily perform an inspection tour of their holdings to the south, allowing greater control of their territory.
Construction of the canal causing many outstanding technical innovations. In the year 587, the world's first water gate was created by engineer Liang Rui in the Sui Dynasty to one part of the original canal along the Yellow River; then in the year 984, the transportation commissioner named Qiao Weiyo created the world's first underwater entrance to the Grand Canal (sluice often seen on the canals and modern canal even to this day).
When the train had emerged, the canal gradually into disuse and disrepair. Currently, only a part of the Hangzhou to Jining navigable. Central and southern parts are also maintained and used primarily to transport coal from mines in the provinces of Shandong and Jiangsu. Another part of the Grand Canal has been silting and sludge buildup and northern parts have dried.
Written By : Arbha ~ Public-DYK
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