The Qin Dynasty

Beginning with operations in 230 BC, the Qin Dynasty created the first empire in China by conquering six Zhou nations. Although their rule over the Chinese Empire from 221 to 206 BC was brief, the Qin Dynasty had a significant cultural influence on the dynasties that came after.

North of Zhou territory, in what is now Shaanxi Province, the Qin Dynasty served as a buffer between Zhou and the less developed nations that were located there. In particular, Xianyang, the capital of the Qin, saw rapid expansion following the establishment of their empire. Actually, the governing Zhou dynasty previously saw the state of Qin as a barbarous, backward kingdom. This discrepancy resulted from Chinese culture's gradual assimilation, which lagged behind the Zhou Dynasty in the abolition of human sacrifice, for instance. The Qin aristocracy yet maintained their claim to be the rightful successors of the Zhou realms. They have therefore strengthened their diplomatic and political positions throughout the years using a number of techniques, such as strategic marriage.

From 361 BC until his passing in 338 BC, Lord Shang Yang, a Qin politician during the Warring States era, promoted the doctrine of Legalism by enacting a series of changes that were advantageous to the military. Beginning in the middle of the 4th century BC at Xianyang, BC Yang also assisted in the construction of the Qin capital. Notably, Qin Legalism encourages practical and brutal combat. Military leaders were ordered to follow what they believed to be Heaven's laws in combat during the Spring and Autumn period when fighting was viewed as a gentleman's activity. The Qin also possessed a strong, effective army and competent generals. Additionally, unlike many of their adversaries, they take advantage of the most recent advancements in both transportation and armaments. In later modifications, better agility was made possible over a variety of diverse terrain types, most of which are found in China. Therefore, the Qin Dynasty was better in terms of warfare both practically and ideologically. The Qin Empire, on the other hand, enjoyed a geographic edge because of its abundance and advantageous position, which was shielded by mountains and made the state a natural fortress. In contrast to the Yangtze drainage basin, it is the hub of the Guanzhong area. As a result, the increased agricultural output assisted in feeding and supporting Qin's massive army.

Once a tiny kingdom in the northwest, The Qin invaded the areas of the smaller states on its western and southern borders in the middle of the third century BC. The Qin then instituted a repressive strategy in an effort to consolidate its dominance and maintain it. Ying Zheng, who had united China, soon after entered the Qin Dynasty as a nine-year-old kid. He established his dominion east of the Yangtze River and to the south of it, conquered six of the seven warring nations, and named himself Qin Shi Huang, the First Emperor of the Qin Dynasty.

The empire of Qin Shi Huang grew throughout his reign, eventually extending as far south as Vietnam. His enormous empire was split into command areas and districts that were jointly run by military and civilian authorities under the supervision of a sizable central administration. Up to the 1911 collapse of the Qing empire, this organizational framework served as the basis for Chinese governance.

The standardization of non-alphabetic writing systems over the entirety of China in order to replace traditionally regional scripts was one of the most significant outcomes of the Qin conquest. To make writing faster and more efficient for record keeping, this alteration has been made simpler. The new script made it possible for regions of the empire that spoke different languages to interact with one another and prompted the founding of an imperial college to supervise all writing. Therefore, older philosophical writings were seized and limited as part of the scholarly effort.

In addition, by making measuring models out of bronze and dispatching them to local officials, the Qin also standardized weights and gauges. The merchants would then be forced to use them, which would facilitate trade and commerce across the empire. Thus, bronze coins were also produced in order to standardize money throughout various areas.

The Qin empire is renowned for its engineering feats, which include a complex network of more than 4,000 miles of roads and one superhighway that lasted for over 500 miles along the Ziwu Mountain range and served as a route for the transportation of materials for the Great Wall of China. Connected boundary walls that eventually became the first section of the Great Wall served as the empire's northern border markers. Meng Tian, a Qin road builder, oversaw the 300,000 workmen that were brought in to work on the Great Wall's construction and the service roads needed to move supplies.

Moreover, Qin Shi Huang sent 700,000 workmen to build his tomb at the base of the Lishan Mountains, which is considered to be his worst creation. A series of temples, chambers, magnificent halls, administrative structures, bronze sculptures, animal burial sites, a reproduction of the royal palace's armory, terracotta statues of acrobats and officials, a fish pond, and a river are all included in this underground metropolis.

While traveling in Eastern China, Qin Shi Huang passed away in 210 BC, leaving his son in control of the throne. However, the majority of the surrounding empire rebelled against the new emperor within two years of his reign. In 202 BC, the general of the Qin Dynasty, Xiang Yu committed suicide, Liu Bang was crowned emperor of the Han Dynasty and marked the fall of the Qin Dynasty.

In short, the Qin Dynasty:

• lasted from 221 to 206 BC and had a significant cultural influence on the dynasties that came after.
• Lord Shang Yang made important reforms that increased the strength of the Qin army.
• Qin Shi Huang is considered the cruelest king in Ancient Chinese history, but he also made important contributions during this period that changed the face of China such as standardizing writing, currency, measurement system, and expanding the network of roads and canals.
• 202 BC marked the fall of the Qin Dynasty.