Shi Huangdi Becomes Emperor
Shi Huangdi Becomes Emperor of Qin Dynasty ruled Ancient China from 221 until 210 BCE. During his short reign he introduced many reforms that dramatically changed the Ancient Chinese society. These several changes fit the way later emperors ruled China and lives of ordinary people. The China we see today would be very different if Shi Huangdi had not become emperor. One of the most difficult questions to answer when studying history is why some empires rise and why some empires fall. There are many reasons why King Zheng of the state of Win, later become emperor Shi Huangdi, was able to conquer other warring states and establish the Qin Dynasty.This was a very remarkable feat considering that at the beggining of the Western Zhou period the state of Qin had been one of the smallest, poorest and remotest of all the warring states.
Shi Huangdi Becomes Emperor of Qin Dynasty ruled Ancient China from 221 until 210 BCE. During his short reign he introduced many reforms that dramatically changed the Ancient Chinese society. These several changes fit the way later emperors ruled China and lives of ordinary people. The China we see today would be very different if Shi Huangdi had not become emperor. One of the most difficult questions to answer when studying history is why some empires rise and why some empires fall. There are many reasons why King Zheng of the state of Win, later become emperor Shi Huangdi, was able to conquer other warring states and establish the Qin Dynasty.This was a very remarkable feat considering that at the beggining of the Western Zhou period the state of Qin had been one of the smallest, poorest and remotest of all the warring states.
The Search For Immortality
Although Shi Huangdi may have established an empire and brought peace to China, many people were unhappy with the harsh measures of Shi Huangdi had used to achieve this. There were three attempts to assassinate him, but none of them were successful. As he grew older, Shi Huangdi became obsessed with death. He demanded his officials to find a way for him to live forever, but they never found out the secret of immortality. Although he couldn't achieve immortality, he hoped at least to protect his spirit in the afterlife by housing his body in a magnificent tomb. Construction on Shi Huangdi's bural tomb began before his death in 210 BCE. It contains thousands of life-size replicas of soldiers and horses. Some of the soldiers stand with horses, others wielding weapons such as spears, swords or crossbows and wearing armour. No two terracotta warriors are alike; each one has different facial features.
Although Shi Huangdi may have established an empire and brought peace to China, many people were unhappy with the harsh measures of Shi Huangdi had used to achieve this. There were three attempts to assassinate him, but none of them were successful. As he grew older, Shi Huangdi became obsessed with death. He demanded his officials to find a way for him to live forever, but they never found out the secret of immortality. Although he couldn't achieve immortality, he hoped at least to protect his spirit in the afterlife by housing his body in a magnificent tomb. Construction on Shi Huangdi's bural tomb began before his death in 210 BCE. It contains thousands of life-size replicas of soldiers and horses. Some of the soldiers stand with horses, others wielding weapons such as spears, swords or crossbows and wearing armour. No two terracotta warriors are alike; each one has different facial features.
Construction of the Great Wall of China
With Shi Huangdi's strict laws and increased control, he undertook extensive public works projects. The most spectacular of these was the Great Wall, sections of smaller walls had been built to defend against attacks from the foreign tribes. Shi Huangdi ordered that these walls are to be joined together, strengthened and extended to make one continuous wall. He damanded that the height and the width of the wall to be increased and towers to be constructed at regular intervals to improve its defences. The Great Wall stretches for over 5760 kilometres. It is without doubt one of the greatest constructions in human history, rivaling the pyramids of Ancient Egypt.
With Shi Huangdi's strict laws and increased control, he undertook extensive public works projects. The most spectacular of these was the Great Wall, sections of smaller walls had been built to defend against attacks from the foreign tribes. Shi Huangdi ordered that these walls are to be joined together, strengthened and extended to make one continuous wall. He damanded that the height and the width of the wall to be increased and towers to be constructed at regular intervals to improve its defences. The Great Wall stretches for over 5760 kilometres. It is without doubt one of the greatest constructions in human history, rivaling the pyramids of Ancient Egypt.
The Qin dynasty was so influential in Chinese history that even the word 'China' is believed to have come from the Qin dynasty