Qin Dynasty (221-206BC)

After years conquering, the state of Qin, defeated the warring states that the Zhou dynasty had in essence created and unified China in 221 BC. The king of Qin invented the title 'Huangdi' (emperor) and called himself 'Qin Shihuangdi' (First Emperor). The unified China was larger than it ever was. The vast territory of Qin Empire bordered Vietnam in the south, and the Yellow Sea in the east. The most developed area was still in the Yellow River Valley. The emperor abolished the aristocracies and divided the empire into provinces. He appointed officials to administer the provinces and controlled the country with strict laws and harsh punishments.

The first emperor not only unified China, but also went about standardizing writing, weights, and measures throughout his kingdom. This was used to promote internal trade among the newly conquered states. The states used to have their own standards of measuring and weighing. The Qin emperor wanted his kingdom to be as one to strengthen it. This standardization was good for the weights and measurements but was not good for philosophies.

During this time, many schools of thought were abolished; only legalism was approved. In 213 BC, all the books of the opposing schools of thought were burned except for the copies preserved in the Qin imperial library. The only way for emperor to keep his nation together was to have all the people throughout the country think the same way. Any deviation would throw China back to the hundreds of years of warring.

In order to secure his territories and prevent nomadic invasion, the construction of the Great Wall of China was started at his will. It came with massive financial burden as well as human life. This led to decline of the Qin dynasty. After the emperor died, the people went into a rage, and a rebellion against the Qin dynasty tyranny. Immediately the dynasty was overthrown. The Qin dynasty lasted only from 221 to 206 BC, but its influence brought great changes to China. The dynasty left this country with great historical legacies like his gigantic mausoleum with 6,000 pieces of life-like Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses.