The Qin dynasty

For around five hundred years Qin, the farthest west state of the Zhou located on Shaanxi, near to the modern Xi’an; had gradually been conquering to its neighbors.

In 4th century BC, the state of Qin, began a series of administrative, economic and military reforms based on Legalism, such as the abolishment of the aristocracy and military heroes, the absolute power of the king and strict laws and harsh punishments for the people.

In 3rd century BC, the states destroyed each other until there were only seven states -included Qin- in conflict for control of China.
Then, from 230 to 221 BC, Qin dominated the remaining states uniting the Chinese as a single centralized state for the first time and implementing perdurable systems of currency and writing.

Qin Shi Huang was China's first emperor, who divided the empire into provinces to control them by loyalty administrators; destroyed ancient literature and historical records to eradicate any past ideas, standardized weights and measures, and coinage, and forced the peasants to leave their land to work as laborers on his massive construction projects such as thousands of kilometers of roads, canals and a first version of the Great Wall.

The Qin dynasty 02

Qin Shi Huang also ordered the construction of his mausoleum with a massive tomb guarded by the famed Terracotta Army.

After he died in 210 BC, the Qin imperial structure collapsed, the provinces started a revolt and then his heir (Hu Hai) was murdered by Qin Shi's younger brother.

In 206 BC the rebel warlord Lui Bang took Xi'an, and founded the Han dynasty.

China History

I. Mythology and pre history

III. The Han dynasty

IV. Southern and Northern dynasties

V. The Sui dynasty

VI. From the Tang dynasty to the Song dynasty

VII. The Mongol Yuan dynasty

VIII. The Ming dynasty

IX. The Manchu Qing dynasty

X. From Republic to Communism

XI. The People's Republic under Mao Zedong

XII. China after Mao Zedong