The Tomb of Shihuangdi
The Tomb of Shihuangdi
HUM 111
July 27, 2013
Emperor Qin Shi Huang (259 BC - 210 BC) fascinates many people when he is talked about; they reference him to The Great Wall of China, and his tomb filled with the over 7000 Terracotta Warriors, Horses, and countless other artifacts that were buried in his tomb with him. The Great Wall of China and his tomb is recorded as his two greatest achievements for China. One of the other great accomplishments of Emperor Qin Shi Huang is the unification of China. Emperor Qin Shi Huang was a prince growing up, his father was king of the Qin state, he was a well-educated child and this would come into play later on in his life.
Qin Shi Huang was born Ying Zheng when he was young China was divided into seven major states, these states, these states were constantly at war with one another, Chinese historians referred to this time period as the “warring states period.” At the age of thirteen, he succeeded his father's regality. Ying Zheng was very aggressive and ambitious at an early age. He assumed full power at 22 by ridding himself of his premier, Lu Buwei, who acted as regent while he was a minor. He wanted to unify and subjugate all the states in China with the powerful political, economic and military strength that his father established in the Qin State.
Ying Zheng realized his ambition and built the first feudal and centralized empire in Chinese history by 221 BC, he proclaimed himself Emperor of the newly unified China. This is what is now called “The Qin Dynasty,” (221 BC - 206 BC). Ying Zheng was the first emperor of a united China, so he proclaimed himself Qin Shi Huang.
In order to consolidate the beginning of his empire, Qin Shi Huang reformed politics, economy and culture. In politics, he abolished the hereditary feudal system where a person was granted to use of land, in return for some sort of homage. He established prefectures and counties, which would be ruled directly by the Emperor. Based on the
HUM 111
July 27, 2013
Emperor Qin Shi Huang (259 BC - 210 BC) fascinates many people when he is talked about; they reference him to The Great Wall of China, and his tomb filled with the over 7000 Terracotta Warriors, Horses, and countless other artifacts that were buried in his tomb with him. The Great Wall of China and his tomb is recorded as his two greatest achievements for China. One of the other great accomplishments of Emperor Qin Shi Huang is the unification of China. Emperor Qin Shi Huang was a prince growing up, his father was king of the Qin state, he was a well-educated child and this would come into play later on in his life.
Qin Shi Huang was born Ying Zheng when he was young China was divided into seven major states, these states, these states were constantly at war with one another, Chinese historians referred to this time period as the “warring states period.” At the age of thirteen, he succeeded his father's regality. Ying Zheng was very aggressive and ambitious at an early age. He assumed full power at 22 by ridding himself of his premier, Lu Buwei, who acted as regent while he was a minor. He wanted to unify and subjugate all the states in China with the powerful political, economic and military strength that his father established in the Qin State.
Ying Zheng realized his ambition and built the first feudal and centralized empire in Chinese history by 221 BC, he proclaimed himself Emperor of the newly unified China. This is what is now called “The Qin Dynasty,” (221 BC - 206 BC). Ying Zheng was the first emperor of a united China, so he proclaimed himself Qin Shi Huang.
In order to consolidate the beginning of his empire, Qin Shi Huang reformed politics, economy and culture. In politics, he abolished the hereditary feudal system where a person was granted to use of land, in return for some sort of homage. He established prefectures and counties, which would be ruled directly by the Emperor. Based on the