Qin Dynasty 221 206 B C Zhao Zheng

Qin Dynasty 221 -206 B. C Zhao Zheng became king at age 13 in 246 B. C and declared of age in 236 B. C. of the Qin State during the Warring States Period Shi Huangdi (First Sovereign Emperor) was the title he gave himself after he had conquered the other states and unified China- bringing an end to the Warring States Period

Unified and Protected Shi Huangdi not only crushed internal resistance, they eliminated outside threats as well. Conquered north of the Yellow River, and as far as south as Vietnam doubling China’s size

Centralization of Powers “Strengthen the trunk and weaken the branches” Brought all the noble families together in one city Took control of their lands and divided it up into 36 districts, each with an appointed Qin official in charge Shi Huangdi was a legalist and eschewed all things Confucian -laws = order -Rewards and punishment -absolute power -social order & harmony -5 basic relationships -education & bureaucracy Ordered anyone who spoke against him killed- 100’s of Confucian scholars, burned Confucian books, poems etc.

Centralization cont. -built a highway network of 4000 miles to ease transportation/communication -uniform standards for written lang. , currency, laws, and weights and measures (axle lengths!) -irrigation projects increased agricultural production

Pros and Cons Ease of travel Forced peasant labor More wealth and growing merchant class increased taxes Wall protecting them from invaders Forced peasant labor for months at a time

Fall of the Qin Shi Huangdi dies, has elaborate tomb built for him. World Heritage Sites- Webpage on Tomb Shi Huangdi's tomb (3 min video) His son only lasts 3 years before rebellion breaks out and the Han Dynasty begins But China is named after his legacy