The Rise & Fall of The Qin Dynasty

The Qin Empire ( 221 to 206 BC ). After nearly 900 years, the Zhou Dynasty came to an end when the state of Qin, the strongest of the 7 surviving states, unified China and established the first empire in 221 BC. The Qin Empire did not last long, but it left 2 enduring legacies: the name China and the idea and structure of the empire. This heritage outlasted the Qin Dynasty itself by more than 2000 years. The first Qin emperor was called Qin Shihuang a.k.a. Ch'in Shih Huang Ti. The title of emperor was used for the first time in Chinese emperor to set the Qin ruler apart as the ruler of the unified land from the kings, the heads of the earlier, smaller states. the empire was divided into provinces and countries, which were governed by centrally appointed governors and magistrates. The former ruling families who had inherited their places in the aristocracy were uprooted and forced to live in the capital of Xianyang. Other centralizing policies included census taking and standardizing of the writing system and weights and measures. The Qin army conducted massive military campaigns to complete the unification of the empire and expand its territory. The Qin empire stretched from the Mongolian plateau in the north to Vietnam in the south. As with rulers before and after him, the first emperor was preoccupied with defending his territory against northern nomads. After waging several successful campaigns, the emperor ordered the building of the wall of "ten thousand li" (a liis a Chinese unit of distance) to protect the empire. This task involved connecting the separate walls that were built by former northern states to form the famous great Wall. Although closely linked with the first ruler of the Qin Empire, the wall as it stands today dates mainly from the later Ming Dynasty. Qin Shihuang's harsh rule provoked much opposition. The emperor feared the scholars most. He had them rounded up and put them to death or sent them into exile. many went into hiding. Moreover, all books, except technical ones, were confiscated and burned. In the last years of his life, Qin Shihuang became fearful of threats on his life and lived in complete secrecy. he also became obsessed with obtaining immortality. he died in 210 BC in Shandong Province, far from the capital of Xianyang, during one of his long quests to find the elixir of life. The Qin empire disintegrated rapidly after his death and a less able prince was put on the throne. Conditions worsened throughout the empire. In 209 BC, rebellions erupted all over China. 2 men had the largest following. Hsiang Yu was a general of aristocratic background; Liu Pang was a minor official from a peasant family. By 206 BC rebels had subdued the Qin army and destroyed the capital. The struggle between Hsang Yu and Liu pang continued for the next 4 years, however, until Liu Pang emerged as victor in 202 BC. taking the title of Kao Tsu, high Progenitor, he established the Han Dynasty.

Home