First emperor (Qin Emperor) and Terracotta Soldiers

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