Final answer:
The laborers who built the Great Wall of China faced grueling conditions, with many dying during its construction. They were conscripted as a form of taxation or punishment and did not receive rewards like riches or land.
Step-by-step explanation:
The fate of those involved in the construction of the Great Wall of China was far from glorious. Most laborers, including farmers and convicts, were conscripted to work on the Wall as a form of taxation or to fulfill legal penalties. The conditions were harsh and many laborers died during construction. Contrary to some myths, there is no reliable historical evidence that the dead were buried within the Wall itself. The work was so grueling that it was sometimes equivalent to a death sentence, as laborers faced extreme weather, hard labor, and often inadequate supplies to sustain them.
The Great Wall was improved and extended under the Ming dynasty to protect against invasions, with the added effect of enhanced infrastructure like fortified towns and new roadways. The laborers who worked on such massive state projects did not receive riches, land, or titles as a reward, but instead faced severe penalties for any failure to comply with the work required of them.