The Qin Dynasty

The Map of the Qin Dynasty



This is the Qin Dynasty at the largest extent.

Technology /Economic:

Everything in the Qin Dynasty was standardizing China. Things that were standardizing includes unit of measurement such as weight and measures. The currency in china was also standardizing the currency that was used was a copper coin with a square hole in the middle. These technology made the economic of China improved because currency of China recognize by the government. The whole kingdom was using the same currency. Although it was a great achievement but in my opinion the greatest achievement at that time was the length of the axles of carts that have to have a standard this is because the emperor build a new road, with this standard size of the axles on the carts, all of them could be able to run smoothly on the new road. This made it easier to trade and travel throughout China.

(Picture:Ancient Chinese Coins)

Government:

The first emperor of the Qin Dynasty was very clever and did a great job. He was the first emperor ever to conquer all the warring states and unified China for the first time. He divided the country up into little counties which were over see by the magistrate and then the counties were put together into 36 commandaries which each has a civil governor, a military commander and a imperial inspector who had to report everything to the emperor. This form of government involved rewards and punishments so that everyone will be in control of the emperor. The emperor had absolute control over everyone even the nobilities which were taken from their own homes to the capital. Thousands of families also had to be moved into the capital in order to build him self a great palace.

(Picture:The palace that the first emperor build for himself)

Social Changes:

Although the first emperor was a great politician he wasn’t a popular leader. The people dislike him because the taxes were way too high. The first emperor was also very paranoid about people taking over his power he introduced censorship which banned people from reading books that were written especially about him or books that were written freely so that he would be able to control people’s mind easier. Not only did he banned book the emperor also executed the scholars who criticize or question his ruling. Over the years he has killed over 200 hundred scholars. This number does not include the pleasant that owned or have written books that are slightly related to the subject that he thinks it is not appropiate. The only books that were allow were books about medicine, herbs, divining and agriculture. The nobilities also didn’t like him either because he relocated them and also seized all their power.

(Picture: Ancient Chinese book)

Religion/philosophy:

During the Qin dynasty Confucianism was still a very popular, people still believed in filial piety, humanity and righteousness of the ruler. Also older people were still give the respect. The first emperor him self didn’t believe in Confucianism though he was a Daoist. He tries to gain immortality in every which way. He even sent out troops to find the island called Penglai which was believed to be a place of immortality. There is also the theory of five elements which is meant to determine the life on earth. It is believe that everything is a balance. There five element are wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. The emperor even change the officials colors to black according to this believe that black stands for water. So the people at that time tries to balance everything in their home so that they will have a peaceful life.

(Picture: Confucian)

Leaders/Contemporaries:

The first leader of the Qin Dynasty was Qin Shihuangdi " The first August Emperor of Qin"His personal name was Ying Zheng. He ruled during 246 B.C. to 210 B.C..Ying Zheung achieves a lot of things for during his time his brought all of the seven warring states together and build the Great Wall of China. That is over 5000 kilometers long. The second ruler of the Qin Dynasty was called Qin Ershi Huangdi"The Second August Emperor of Qin". His personal name is Ying Huhai. He ruled from the year 207 B.C to 209 B.C.. He didn’t really achieve anything Huhai was only made a puppet emperor and was forced to commit suicide by Zhao Gao(who played a big role when the first emperor was still alive) who was the person behind him. But after a year of ruling behind another emperor's back, the Han Dynsty took over. At the time of the emperor's rule lived a Roman statesman named Gaius Lutatius Catulus. He was admired by all the Romans because he was the naval commander of the first Punic war.He led the fleet into victory. Another man that was famous during the time was Hamilcur Barca. He was also a statesman and leader of the Barcid family. He was also Hannibal's father. Hannibal was a famous military leader and his greatest achievement was the outbreak of the second Punic war.
(Picture:The first emperor)

Others:

The Qin emperor lived from 259 B.C. and was crowned at the age of 13 when the King died but he was too young to rule therefore the prime minister Lu Buwei ruled for him. Not only was Lu Buwei a prime minister he was also the real father of the Qin Emperor. When the Qin emperor was old enough he found out about the prime minister’s plan. Not knowing that the prime minister was his real father he sentenced the prime minister to death and came to rule. This would be something that you wouldn’t know about the king, but one of the most famous creation that was build in this dynasty is the Mausoleum and the terracotta army of the first emperor. It was a tomb build especially for the first emperor. The army includes 8000 life size clay soldiers and not one of these clay soldiers are identical looking, experts believed that these clay soldiers were build after real humans who are buried with the emperor in order to protect the emperor in the afterlife.

(Picture:the terracotta army)

Summary:

Overall this dynasty is very successful. The first emperor achieve a lot for the Chinese people although he might be very harsh. The first emperor standardized the money for China. He also build the great wall of China and Road for trade. This allow the economic to be stronger than before. The government under the first emperor's rule was also very ahead of its time. The system allows the emperor to know what is going on anywhere in China. But in order to control the whole country the emperor didn't allow any books expect for the ones about medicine because he didn't want people to think freely. In my opinion I think the first emperor had to be harsh in order to control China because it is such a big country and also because it was united for the first time.

(Picture: Chinese sign for the Qin Dynasty)

Timeline:

256 B.C.- The Qin depose the last Zhou emperor, the Zhou dynasty ends after 800 years of rule (Picture:The Zhou emperor)

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221 B.C.- Qin Shi huangdi conquers all of China and becomes the first emperor of China(the great wall of china was also build) (Picture: the Great wall of China)

213 B.C.- Shi Huangdi outlaws all of thought expect the legalist and buries alive 346 scholars(Picture:Ancient Chinese Scholars)

21o B.C.- Shi Huangdi is buried in a colossal tomb near Xian, surrounded by thousands of terracotta soldiers (Picture:A terracotta solider)

206 B.C.-The last emperor of the dynasty past away and so the Qin Dynasty ended.

Work Citied

"Qin Dynasty"



"Dynasties of China:Qin "



"Qin Dynasty"



"Chinese History:Qin Dynasty"



"Qin Dynasty"



"The Qin Dynasty"