Transcript The First Emperor of China: Qin Shi Huang

Qin Shi Huangdi:
The First
Emperor of China
AIM: How was China unified under Shi
Huangdi?
Qin Dynasty: Western China
SHI HUANGDI
•221 BC crushed all
rivals- ended
“warring states
period”
•Claimed the
“mandate of
heaven”
•1st emperor of Qin
Dynasty

The word “China”
came from Qin, also
spelt “Chin”, the
kingdom of Qin Shi
Huangdi

Hated for his tyranny
– “A thousand will die
so that a million may
live.”

But admired for his
many radical and
insightful policies
Began
Classical Age
advancements in arts,
religion, science, gov’t
Methods of Power
•Brutal
•Restricted
• individual freedoms
•Ruled with total
control
(authoritarianism)
•Used rewards and
punishments to
control people
What type of philosophy did Shi
Huangdi adopt?
Confucianism under Qin
•Confucian scholars hit hardest by harsh rule- WHY?
•Many killed or jailed
•Book Burning: Shi Huangdi ordered the destruction of
all works of lit. and philosophy
•Only books on medicine and agriculture were
spared-WHY?
Unifying China
Politically
Socially
Economically
•Abolished
feudalism (local
rulers had
power)
•Created 36
MILITARY
districts
supervised by his
officials
•Forced nobles to
live in his capital
•Created a
uniform system
of writing
•Standardized
weights and
measurements
•Issued Qin coins
as a new
currency
•Built roads and
canals to make
trans. easier
The Great Wall’s beginnings…
•Feudal states
had previously
built walls to
defend against
invaders
•Ordered the
walls to be
joined together
•Criminals and
peasants built it
The Great Wall
•25 feet high, topped with a wide brick road
•13, 171 miles long today
•Why build this wall?
Terracotta Army
•8000 terracotta warriors
created to help Shi
Huangdi rule another
empire in the afterlife
•Took 36 years to
complete
•6-6.5 feet tall
•242-600 lbs.
Terracotta
Warriors
Death and Legacy
Died 210 BC
 Qin Dynasty collapses  forced labor,
heavy taxes, cruel policies people
revolted
 Han Dynasty established by revolt leader
(and illiterate peasant) Liu Bang
