Final answer:
The Great Wall of China, enhanced by the Ming Dynasty around the 16th century, spans approximately 1,550 miles. The wall's construction employed farmers and artisans, contributing to its grandeur. Despite myths, it's not visible from space.
Step-by-step explanation:
By the 16th century, the Great Wall of China stretches about 1,550 miles. The Ming Dynasty's extensive fortification efforts particularly focused on protecting the region around Beijing and the agricultural heartland in the Liaodong Province, crucial for ensuring the security of the Chinese Empire against the Manchurian threats from the north. The labor force consisted of farmers and specialized artisans who dedicated their skills to the construction of city walls, temples, and pagodas, such as those seen during the Tang period in the city of Chang'an.
Despite common misconceptions, the Great Wall was not visible from space, which was confirmed by China's first astronaut, Yang Liwei, upon his return from space in 2003. The wall, as it stands, represents a complex history of construction, with many walls built across different dynasties and time periods, leading to some historians questioning the concept of it being a single coherent structure.