First Emperor
221-210 BCE
Qin Shi Huang & Unification of China• King of Qin State (Zhou Warring States
Period) 247-221 BCE
• Emperor of Unified China, 221-210 BCE
• Major technological and social reforms under his rule as emperor
• Invents title Huangdi (combination of Three Sovereigns & Five Emperors of Xia, plus di meaning heaven)
Major innovations
• Standardized weights & measures
• Standardized currency
• National Road System
• Defensive wall in north (against Mongols)
• Standardized script/characters
• Standardized chariot axles
• Moved court families to palace to consolidate power
• Typical scale system. (Imperial salaries paid in ‘stones’ of grain)
• Standard currency- shape in use until 20th century
Remnants of the early defensive wall, 6th C BCE
• Remnants of Qin era Great Wall
• NASA photo: wall is actually hard to see from space
• Tomb Mound of First Emperor
• Satellite view
• Terra cotta Army of the First Emperor’s necropolis
• Mingqi (spirit objects)
• Traces of paint
• ½ size bronze Chariot from Tomb
• ½ size scale. Though buried underground for over 2000 years, all its movable parts still work well.
• Rob Cohen, director of the Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, with re-created warriors on set of the film