Transcript The rule of Shi Huangdi - The John Crosland School

The rule of Shi Huangdi
Unification of China during the Qin
Dynasty. The young Shi Huangdi (13
years old) unified China through the
brutal ideas of Legalism
Shi Huangdi was the first emperor
of the Qin dynasty.
Shi Huangdi invaded each city state, took their
weapons, placed one of his officers in charge, then
took the nobles back to the capital.
Not satisfied with the title of King, Shi Huangdi made
himself the first Chinese Emperor. As well, he created the
Chinese Empire
Shi Huangdi ruled through fear, intimidation, and conquest. Any person
who opposed him was executed along with their family. He also
opposed Confucianism and ordered all books on it burned.
Shi Huangdi used peasants to build many public works such as roads.
He built over 4000 miles of roads which connected all of the Chinese
city-states to the capital city.
He also had the peasant build a wall to keep out the Mongol invaders.
It took 7 years, and over 500,000 people died in its construction, but it
has lasted more than 2600 years.
The Great Wall is over 1500 miles long. (That would stretch ½ way
across America). It is 30 feet tall and 30 feet wide at the top and 40
feet wide at the base. It is made from brick and stone.
The bodies of some of the 500,000 dead workers are buried within the
wall. It is sometimes called the Wall of Sorrow,
Shi Huangdi standardized many things in China in order to make life
easier for many people. Coins, weights, measurements, and writing
were standardized or made alike.
Chinese coin made standard by Shi Huangdi. Notice the hole which
allowed coins to be collected on a string.
When he was buried, he had over 6000 clay soldiers and 1400 clay
chariots made to guard him in the afterlife. All are different and based
on his real soldiers.