Transcript The Ch*in Dynasty

The Ch’in Dynasty
221 B.C. – 210 B.C.
Ch’in Dynasty
(Sometimes referred to as the Qin Dynasty)
• Very brief: Lasted from 221 B.C.-210 B.C.
– Brief- Short in duration (only 11 years)
• Ruled by Shi Huang Ti (means “First Emperor”)
– Sometimes referred to as Qin Shih Huang Ti
• Controlled a large area from the Great Wall to
the Hsi River (also known as the Xi or Pearl
River)
Shih Huang Ti
• Uniform rules and laws
– Laws applied to everyone equally, no matter wealth or social
class
• Standard currency
– Improved trading
• New roads were built
– Made trading and traveling much easier
• Created 36 provinces (or states)
– During the “Era of Warring States”, many states fought each
other
– Developed a strong central government
The Great Wall of China
Video: Shi Huang Ti orders the construction of the Great Wall
• Wandering tribes (nomads)
living to the north threatened
China
• 1,500 miles long (the part
built during the Ch’in Dynasty)
• Kept Mongols, Huns, and
other enemies out of the
empire
Book Burning
• Shih Huang Ti disliked those that praised
the previous dynasty (the Chou Dynasty)
• People criticized him for being too cruel
and harsh
• He threw many philosophers in jail and
burned books from previous philosophers
(like Confucius and Lao-Tzu)
The End
• Shih Huang Ti died in 210 B.C.
– This was the end of the Ch’in Dynasty
• After a power struggle among the generals of
the Ch’in army, Liu Pang emerged as the new
leader
– He founded the Han Dynasty
On this time line, show when the
Ch’in Dynasty lasted
Started: 221 BCE
Ended: 210 BCE
Terracotta
Warriors
Video- Terracotta Warriors
• Shi Huang Ti’s tomb is a world-famous
archaeological site
• Over 8,000 statues of warriors and horses
were buried near his tomb to protect it
• Archaeologists still have not excavated the
main tomb and are still making new
discoveries
Terracotta Warriors Guarding the tomb of Shi Huang Ti