Capital of Qin Dynasty:
The Qin region was located in north of the Zhou Dynasty territory which is in modern-day Shaanxi province. The less civilized states were above Qin as it served as a better between it and them. Xianyang was the capital of the Qin Dynasty which was extensively enlarged after Qin dominance was established.
The ruling Zhou Dynasty considered Qin as a backward barbarian state. This distinction had to do in embracing Chinese culture with its slow pace, for instance, in doing away with human sacrifice it lagged behind the Zhou.
The ruling class of Qin through the centuries they strengthened their diplomatic and political standing through a variety of means, including marriage nonetheless made them believe in themselves to be legitimate heirs to the Zhou states.
Shang Yang:
During 361 to 338 B.C. in the rule of Duke Xiao the groundwork was laid for conquest, through the work of Shang Yang primarily who was an administrator from the state of Wey who was appointed as Chancellor.
Shang Yang was a vigorous reformer as he systematically reworked on the social order of Qin society. He eventually created a complicated bureaucratic state which was massive and helped him advocating for the unification of Chinese states.
A successful system to expand the army beyond the nobility by giving land as a reward to peasants who enlisted was among Shang Yang’s innovations. This helped create and maintain a less expensive but a massive infantry than the traditional chariot forces.
Shang Yang was charged with treason following Duke Xiao’s death by the old aristocrats in the state.
He was defeated and executed in 338 B.C. with five chariots pulling him apart for spectators in a market as he attempted to fight and create his own territory. But the foundation for the Qin Empire was already laid by the ideas of Shang Yang.
Ying Zheng:
The regions surrounding the state of Qin got under it. The states of Shu and Ba both begged for Qin’s help when they went to war in 316 B.C. Qin conquered each of them in response and relocated thousands of families there over the next 40 years, and continued their expansionist efforts into other regions.
The first emperor of China is considered to be Ying Zheng. Ying Zheng took the throne at the age of 13 being the son of King Zhuangxiang of Qin and a concubine, following his father’s death in 247 B.C. after three years on the throne.
Qin Shi Huang:
Ying Zheng took the name Qin Shi Huang Di (“first emperor of Qin”) as the ruler of Qin, which brings together the words for “Mythical Ruler” and “God.”
A militarily-driven expansionist policy was started by Qin Shi Huang. The Qin seized Zhao territory in 229 B.C. and created a unified Chinese empire in 221 B.C. after continuing to seize all five Zhou states.
Qin Shi Huang traveled in secrecy through a system of tunnels and lived in secret locations to facilitate communing with immortals after being advised by the sorcerer Lu Sheng. The emperor’s personal name in documents were not used by the citizens as anyone who revealed his location would face execution.
Qin Dynasty Unification:
Qin Shi Huang conquered people across a vast territory that was home to several different cultures and languages as he worked quickly to unify his territory.
The standardization of non-alphabetic written script across all of China, replacing the previous regional scripts was one of the most important outcomes of the Qin conquest. To allow faster writing this script was simplified as well as it was useful for record keeping.
Parts of the empire that did not speak the same language to communicate together were brought together with this new script, and an imperial academy was founded to oversee all texts. Older philosophical texts were confiscated and restricted as part of the university effort.
The various warring states in China were unified for the first time in its history, with these Qin advances. In fact the name China is derived from the word Qin (which was written as Ch'in in earlier Western texts).
Great Wall of China:
Engineering marvels was the biggest spotlight for the Qin Empire, they built a complex system of over 4,000 miles of road and one superhighway. The Straight Road along the Ziwu Mountain range ran for about 500 miles and is the pathway on which materials for the Great Wall of China were transported.
On the north the empire’s borders were marked by border walls that were connected, and the beginnings of the Great Wall were exchanged into these.
300,000 workers were brought to work on the construction of the Great Wall and on the service roads required to transport supplies who were overseen by the Qin road builder Meng Tian.
Qin Shi Huang's Monuments:
Qin Shi Huang was noted for architecture and audacious marvels of art which were meant to celebrate the glory of his new dynasty.
A replica of that state’s ruling palace was constructed across from Qin Shi Huang’s Palace along the Wei River each time Qin made a new conquest. Then from the conquered states linked by covered walkways and populated by singing girls were brought in.
Weapons were collected from Qin conquests and melted down, to be used in the capital city Xianyang for the casting of giant statues.
Qin Shi Huang Tomb:
Qin Shi Huang sent 700,000 workers to create an underground complex for his most brash creation, at the foot of the Lishan Mountains to serve as his tomb. Among the seven wonders of the world it is one of them now.
Designed as an underground city it had temples, huge chambers and halls, administrative buildings, bronze sculptures, animal burial grounds, a replica of the imperial armory, terracotta statues of acrobats and government officials, a fish pond and a river. It was believed that Qin Shi Huang would rule in the afterlife.
Terracotta Army:
Qin Shi Huang developed an army of life-size statues just short of a mile away, outside the eastern gate of the underground city. With almost 8,000 terracotta warriors and 600 terracotta horses, plus chariots, stables and other artifacts.
This vast complex of terracotta statuary, weapons and other treasures is now famous as the Terracotta Army. It also included the tomb of Qin Shi Huang himself.
Due to high levels of toxic mercury at the site the excavation of the tomb of Qin Shi Huang has been delayed. It’s believed that the tomb had liquid mercury installed in it by the emperor to mimic rivers and lakes.
Death of Qin Shi Huang:
In 210 B.C. while touring eastern China Qin Shi Huang died. Officials traveling with him disguise the stench of his corpse as they wanted to keep it secret, so they filled up 10 carts with fish to travel with his body.
A forged letter from them in the name of Qin Shi Huang was sent to crown prince Fu Su, ordering him to commit suicide, which he did, allowed the officials to establish Qin Shi Huang’s younger son as the new emperor.
End of the Qin Dynasty:
The new emperor got revolted by most of the empire in two years time which created a constant atmosphere of rebellion and retaliation. Warlord Xiang Yu destroyed the capital and split up the empire into 18 states after defeating the Qin army in quick succession as he also executed the emperor.
Liu Bang quickly rose up against other local kings; he was given the Han River Valley to rule. But then he waged a three-year revolt against Xiang Yu.
Liu Bang assumed the title of emperor of the Han Dynasty in 202 B.C. when Xiang Yu committed suicide, adopting many of the Qin dynasty institutions and traditions.
Written by: Gourav Chowdhury
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