The First Emperor of China - Qin Shihuangdi
What Dynasty followed the Qin?
Han
The Emperor of Qin wanted to unify China, so he...
He began to STANDARDIZE cultural practices that differed from place to place.
What was one way that Emperor Qin tried to standardize China?
He created a uniform system of laws that were strict and had harsh punishments for those who broke them (legalist belief)
Why did Emperor Qin take a new title? What was it, and what did it mean?
He decided then to take a new title, Qin Shihuangdi, or "First Emperor of Qin."
What did Emperor Qin do to many Confucius scholars?
He executed 460 Confucian scholars for plotting against him
Explain how the Emperor Qin's rule was both good and bad.
He unified China and built magnificent structures and monuments, but he also killed many people through executions and building projects.
What did the 13-year-old Prince Zheng accomplish once he became king?
He used military might, spies, bribery, and alliances to conquer the remaining rival states. His empire became far larger than the kingdoms of earlier dynasties. In 221 B.C.E., he gained control of all of China. (Unified!)
Who was Emperor Qin and how was he born?
He was China's first emperor and began life as Prince Zheng (jung) of the royal family of the state of Qin.
What happened when Emperor Qin's own son spoke out against his father?
He was sent to oversee work on the Great Wall.
The Emperor Qin adopted the ideas of ___________ as he governed China.
Legalism (strict laws and harsh punishments)
Emperor Qin also did what to the Confucius scholars?
Marked their faces with tattoos, burned their books. Many chose to die rather than have their books burned.
Explain a negative and positive of The Great Wall.
Positive - it, along with China's powerful army, kept out invaders from the north Negative - tens of thousands of peasants and exiled people were killed building the wall
After the Zhou ruled China, the _________ Dynasty took over.
Qin
Emperor Qin died doing what?
Searching 600 miles away for the magic potion to make him live forever
How did Emperor Qin prepare to have the Wall built?
Supply camps were set up to bring food and materials to the workers in the mountains and deserts of the northern frontier. Soldiers were posted to fight off bandits and to stop workers from running away. Thousands of Chinese were marched from their homes and forced to work on the wall. It is said that many of them never returned.
When did the Emperor Qin rule China?
The Emperor of Qin (chin) ruled over a united China from 221 to 210 B.C.E.
Explain how the Emperor Qin standardized money, weights and measurements...
The Emperor of Qin commanded that metal coins of gold or bronze would be the only acceptable form of money. A hole in the center of each coin enabled people to carry several coins together on a cord. The emperor also ordered that measuring cups be made to hold consistent amounts.
How did Emperor Qin try to protect China's northern border from invaders?
The Emperor of Qin forced workers to build a long wall along China's northern border.
Under Emperor Qin's laws...
the rich and poor were punished in the same way (fair)
Emperor Qin's Legalist beliefs (strict laws and harsh punishments) were not popular with...
Confucius scholars who believed in behaving properly and setting a good example
Why did the Chinese people have very different opinions of Emperor Qin?
Emperor of Qin was both a strong leader and a cruel one.
What was Emperor Qin's greatest building project?
The emperor's biggest project was the Great Wall along China's northern border.
When a Confucius scholar spoke at a banquet and said that Emperor Qin must follow the ways of Confucianism, what happened?
The emperor's trusted official told the emperor that scholars' criticisms were causing trouble, and the government should CENSOR the scholars. No one, he said, should be allowed to learn about Confucianism. ALL Confucian books must be brought to the capital city and burned.
To make trading easier...
the emperor standardized money, weights, and measures.
What was the purpose of the Great Wall?
The wall was intended to protect China from invasion from the north.
What raged after the death of Emperor Qin Shihuangdi?
There was a revolt of the people and a CIVIL WAR raged. Qin Shihuangdi's harsh rule left many people unhappy with the government so they REVOLTED.
What was so amazing about Emperor Qin's tomb and burial site?
There was an entire army made of a kind of clay called terra-cotta. The army included more than six thousand life-size figures such as archers, foot soldiers, chariot drivers, and horses. So far, archaeologists have yet to find any two figures that are exactly alike.
How did the Emperor Qin deal with the threat of powerful lords in feudalism?
To avoid threats from powerful lords, he replaced the old system of feudalism with a government he controlled personally.
Very little remains of Qin's original Great Wall. The wall we see today was...
added onto Emperor Qin's wall by rulers who came after.
What is terra-cotta?
clay
Emperor Qin used __________ measures to control his empire, even banishing his own mother!
harsh
Emperor Qin was afraid of death and never did find happiness. He asked magicians how he could become ______________.
immortal (meaning, living forever!)