United China Warring States Period After the Zhou

United China

Warring States Period ► After the Zhou Dynasty, China has 7 individual kingdoms ► These kingdoms fight for control

China’s st 1 Emperor

Qin Dynasty ► The victor of the Warring States Period is the Qin Dynasty ► 221 B. C. – China is united for the first time

Qui Shi Huangdi China’s 1 st Emperor Started his reign at 13.

Ruling China ► ► ► Wanted a strong central government Shi Huangdi showed signs of violence at a young age § Had his mother’s boyfriend and his whole family executed Qui Shin Huangdi ruled with an iron first Had many enemies from the old kingdoms Suppressed rebellions and oppressed peasants Made slaves of captors Harsh laws and heavy taxes Went to war every year to show his power and force the poor to be in the army Buried scholars alive and burned books Executed anyone who argued with his rule Forced old nobles to live in the capital, Chang’an (Now Xi’an) so he could watch them

He’s Not All Bad ► Standardized ► Built measurements highway ► Built irrigation systems for farming ► Standardized the value of coins ► Made it easier to do business ► Kept China safe

End of Qin Dynasty ► Shi Huangdi dies in 210 BC while touring the country § It’s an interesting story, ask me ► The Chinese hated him because of his harshness ► Shi Huangdi’s son is a weaker ruler and rebellions erupt everywhere ► The dynasty ends

The Elixir of Life

Describing Shi Huangdi ► "With his puffed-out chest like a hawk and voice of a jackal, Qin is a man of scant mercy who has the heart of a wolf. When he is in difficulty he readily humbles himself before others, but when he has got his way, then he thinks nothing of eating others alive. ► "If the Qin should ever get his way with the world, then the whole world will end up his prisoner. "

The Great Wall of China

Shi Huangdi’s Tomb

The Terracotta Army